Baltal (Sonamarg), June 8 -The fresh snowfall in the upper reaches of the Kashmir Valley, during the past three days, has covered various stretches of the tracks leading to the Holy Cave of Shri Amarnathji from the Baltal and Pahalgam sides, with around two feet snow.
A high level team of officers and engineers of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), led by the Chief Executive Officer, B B Vyas, this morning extensively air-surveyed the critical patches of the track along both the Chandanwari- Holy Cave and Baltal- Holy Cave routes. While the track and the camp areas at Sheshnag, Mahagunas Top and Poshpathri are still under thick snow cover, on the Baltal side, the two kilometers stretch from Sangam to the Holy Cave has also come under fresh snow adversely affecting the movement of pony and pithus on the Baltal-Holy Cave route. There are unconfirmed reports of a patch of track having got washed away because of cloud burst over the Pissu Top area. The Board is awaiting the factual and official position in this regard.
The incessant rains and the snowfall have hampered the track clearances which were in progress all along the route, particularly at the sectors which continue to be under 5 to 6 feet accumulated snow. The fresh snowfall has retarded the movement of labourers and other staff engaged on the track clearance and creating other facilities, which are in the final stages of completion.
At the Holy Cave, the team took stock of the works undertaken for creating various facilities like prefabricated temporary huts and toilets. The officials also inspected the site proposed for relocation of the helipad. However, the snow clearance has not been taken up at the site due to inclement weather conditions and fresh snowfall.
The Camp Director of the Board at the Holy Cave briefed the team about the status of various works, stating that these received a major setback due to snow, which continued yesterday also. The Shrine Board is constantly in touch with the Meteorological Department, which has predicted light rains in the upper reaches in next 24 hours.
At Baltal, the Board officials went round the Base Camp and reviewed the pace of progress on the installation of toilet blocks, preparation of langer and tenting sites and provision of other facilities. It was informed that so far 284 environmental-friendly toilets have been set up at the Baltal Base Camp. In addition to this, 40 pre-fab huts (double-room) have been made functional. The work relating to renewal of permissions for setting up tents and shops is going on and is likely to be completed by 11th June 2009.
Governor Mr N N Vohra, who is the Chairman SASB, is scheduled to visit the Holy Cave Shrine and the two Base Camps, and carry out an aerial reconnaissance on June 11, 2009 to particularly assess the time lines for restoration and setting up of all the required facilities. Preceding the Governor’s survey and on-ground assessment, yet another aerial review will be undertaken on 10th June by Chief Executive Officer of the Board alongwith senior officers of the Divisional Administration.
In view of the obtaining weather conditions, a Spokesperson of the SASB has once again advised the intending pilgrims to get themselves registered with the designated branches of the Jammu and Kashmir Bank across the country with regard to both the specific route of travel and the date of the Yatra. He reiterated that registration of pilgrims is all the more necessary for proper regulation of the Yatra to minimize hardships and inconvenience to the Yatris and also for ensuring adequate facilities at all the camps and the halting points enroute the Shrine for the registered Yatris. While emphasizing that safety and welfare of the pilgrims is the primary concern of the Board, he expressed the hope and optimism that all the intending pilgrims will follow the Board’s advice for registration, in advance, in their own interest, keeping in view the current weather trends. He added that no Yatri will be allowed to proceed on the arduous journey without proper registration.
Meanwhile, when asked about the latest status of the tracks and the various facilities being created at the Base Camps and other locations, particularly in the wake of fresh snowfall, the Spokesperson told mediapersons that the Board was monitoring the progress and situation with all the concerned agencies on regular basis. “Based on the inputs from the concerned agencies, connected with the Yatra, including the Meteorological Department, the Board will review the situation and accordingly take appropriate decision in the larger interests of the complete safety and security of the pilgrims after the Governor’s visit on June 11, 2009,” he added.