Corridor reopens, 70 devotees reach Kartarpur Sahib on Day 1

Ravi Dhaliwal

Tribune News Service

Dera Baba Nanak

(Gurdaspur), November 17

As the Kartarpur corridor reopened on Wednesday, 70 devotees crossed over the border to pay obeisance at the historic shrine in Pakistan on the first day.

Covid protocol mandatory for pilgrims

• Pilgrims must carry their Covid vax certificate or a negative report not older than 72 hours prior to arrival at the ICP
• Masks are a must for the pilgrims. They are also being advised to carry hand sanitiser

AAP leaders to pay obeisance tomorrow

Chandigarh: Expressing happiness over the reopening of the corridor, AAP said party MLAs led by state chief and MP Bhagwant Mann would pay obeisance at the Pak shrine on Friday. Mann said, “On Gurpurb, prayers will be offered for the progress, prosperity and happiness of Punjab.” TNS

An official confirmed that these were the pilgrims who had booked their visit on the online portal before the passage was shut following the Covid outbreak. On Thursday, members of the state Cabinet, led by Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi, will visit the shrine. The CM’s entourage will be assembling at the Integrated Check Post (ICP) around 11 am. Some MLAs are

also expected to accompany the Cabinet.

Meanwhile, heavy footfall is expected on the birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Dev, which will be celebrated on Friday.

On Wednesday, unprecedented security arrangements were put in place by the BSF along with the Army and the Batala police. Intelligence Bureau officials have also been placed at the strategic points.

Talking about the guidelines for the pilgrims, an ICP official said: “Temperature check will be conducted at the check post itself. We are awaiting further instructions from the authorities concerned in New Delhi on any other Covid protocol to be followed.”

Meanwhile, officials of the Land Ports Authority of India, the central agency instrumental in constructing the 4.6-km-long passage, were also present even as the BSF officers held regular meetings with the Pakistan Rangers at the Zero Line.

Also, broadcasting vans of various media houses weren’t being allowed to go near the ICP. The devotees will have to be back in the ICP before sunset.

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