SRINAGAR The annual Amarnath yatra is set to begin from Monday as all arrangements, including security along the twin routes of Baltal and Pahalgam, for smooth conduct of the pilgrimage have been put in place, officials said Friday.
The 40-day yatra to the cave shrine at an altitude of 3,880 metre in the south Kashmir Himalayas will commence from both the routes, they said.
Largely all arrangements have been put in place just some final touches are being given, they said.
The Army, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police have been tasked with providing security to the pilgrims and a multi-tier security arrangement has been planned for the yatra, they said.
The security forces have begun sanitizing the yatra routes, they said, adding they have been asked to ensure optimum use of latest technologies and gadgets for securing the yatra.
The officials said that forces are not taking any chances especially in the wake of February 14 Pulwama suicide attack which left 40 CRPF personnel dead.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah Wednesday warned officials against any complacency in the security arrangements for the yatra and directed them to strictly implement the standard operating procedures for the pilgrimage.
During his two-day visit to the state, Shah underlined the importance of the standard operating procedure for convoy movement and specifically stressed on timely dispatch of convoys.
Shah said that after the cut-off timings, barricades should be erected at suitable locations and no differentiation should be made between yatris and tourists.
Meanwhile, advisors to the Governor, Khursheed Ahmad Ganai and K K Sharma Friday visited Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camps of the yatra where they chaired a high-level meetings with officers to take stock of the arrangements being put in place for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage, the officials said.
Doppler Weather Radar systems for Amarnath Yatra
Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), Union Ministry of Earth Sciences will install Mobile Doppler Weather Radar System at Gumri which will provide 24×7 severe weather surveillance and issue necessary extreme weather alerts for pilgrims of Amarnath Yatra-2019.
Another Doppler Weather Radar System will be installed at Uri in District Baramulla which will monitor Western Disturbances towards the valley and provides precise weather predictions.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Baseer Ahmad Khan today chaired a meeting to review logistic arrangements for the successful installation of Mobile Doppler Weather Radar System at Gumri and Uri.
The Divisional Commissioner directed Deputy Commissioners of Ganderbal and Baramulla to provide each and every support to IMD which include proper space, Gensets and other basic amenities within three days so that the weather systems will be installed at the locations in a hassle-free manner and the pilgrims of Amarnath Yatra get an hourly weather update.
After the successful culmination of Amarnath Yatra-2019, Mobile Doppler Weather Radar System at Gumri will be shifted to Banihal for providing severe weather alerts for south Kashmir, National Highway and Chenab Valley for the remaining period of the year.
IMD will also install Doppler Weather Radar Systems at Jammu and Leh divisions for accurate weather updates to the people.
The Divisional Commissioner assured the officers of IMD that the State Administration will provide the necessary support for the successful establishment of Doppler Weather Radar Systems across Jammu and Kashmir.
The Divisional Commissioner also stressed upon the officers to make sure that all necessary arrangements are made well in time besides the need for close coordination among different agencies for the successful conduct of Amarnath Yatra-2019.
Director General IMD Dr K.J. Ramesh, Director Srinagar Metrological Centre Sonum Lotus and other concerned officers were present in the meeting.
Admin, police review arrangements
Ramban/Jammu: Senior Jammu division officers reviewed arrangements for the annual Amarnath yatra, which is scheduled to commence on July 1, along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Friday, officials said.
The officials directed the construction agencies for proper maintenance of the arterial road to ensure smooth movement of pilgrim vehicles, officials said.
Jammu Divisional Commissioner Sanjeev Verma and Inspector General of Police, Jammu, M K Sinha visited ‘yatra’ transit camps, which have been set up by the administration, from Shaitani Nalla to Chanderkot along the highway, they said.
The first batch of pilgrims are scheduled to leave Jammu on June 30, a day ahead of the formal commencement of the ‘yatra’ to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas.
Verma and Sinha reviewed the security arrangements along the 270-km highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir to the rest of the country, for smooth conduct of the ‘yatra’, the officials said.
The officers directed the construction agencies to maintain the highway from Nashri to Banihal in such a way that vehicles do not get obstructed.
Deputy Commissioner, Ramban, Showkat Aijaz Bhat, Deputy Inspector General of Police, Doda-Kishtwar-Ramban Range, Bhim Sen Tuti, Senior Superintendent of Police, Ramban, Anita Sharma and other senior officers briefed other officers about the measures which were put in place for the smooth conduct of the ‘yatra’, officials said.
Verma took stock of availability of portable drinking water, power supply, installation of lights, bathrooms, toilets and other essentials.
The divisional commissioner and the IGP later visited community kitchen sites, shelter sheds, joint control rooms and Quick Reaction Teams.
The district development commissioner apprised them of identified locations for halting points, holding areas for trucks and other arrangements.
He said CCTV cameras at ‘langar’ (community kitchen) points have been installed for round-the-clock surveillance.
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