80 stopovers identified

Tribune News Service

Jammu, June 17

The administration has identified 80 spots from Kathua to Ramban where Amarnath pilgrims can make a halt in case of any eventuality related to the weather, rain, landslide or a natural calamity.

The government is making all efforts to ensure a smooth and safe conduct of the 45-day pilgrimage beginning June 30.

Addressing mediapersons, Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma said this was for the first time that 80 stopovers had been established for the pilgrims from Kathua to Ramban.

“During these stopovers, the Tourism Department has been asked to arrange short trips for the pilgrims to nearby areas of religious and tourism significance," the Divisional Commissioner said.

He said the stopovers at Ramban could accommodate a maximum of 6,000 pilgrims. All basis facilities such as medical care, banking and catering services would be provided.

Verma said food safety officials had been directed to maintain hygiene during the preparation of langar. Plastic and polythene bags had been banned to protect the environment during the yatra. Mobile toilets had been established at various places on the yatra route.

Spots had been earmarked where buses would halt so that vehicular movement on the highway was not disrupted.

Verma said Yatri Bhavan at Bhagwati Nagar had been given a facelift and more facilities had been added.

The State Road Transport Corporation would deploy new buses to take pilgrims to Pahalgam and Baltal. Critical care ambulances would also be deployed to attend to any emergency, he said.