DELHI, INDIA, March 18, 2012 (Jammu.com): The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board convened to decide the details of the Holy Amarnath Yatra for 2012. Regarding the date of commencement of the Yatra 2012, the Board decided to commence immediately the registration of pilgrims. The Shri Amarnath Yatra would commence on 25th June and conclude on Raksha Bandhan on 2nd August. The Board further directed that all possible efforts should be made to make a timely assessment to determine whether it would be feasible to consider advancing the Shri Amarnath Yatra by a few days, prior to 25th June, depending on the weather.
During the 2010 and 2011 Yatras, despite vigorous efforts to carry out snow clearance operations on the Chandanwari-Sheshnag-MG Top-Panjtarni-Holy Cave axis, this route could become fit for movement only around end June. During Yatra 2009, despite sustained efforts to clear the snow tracks, the Yatris had faced severe difficulties for the initial 10-12 days, particularly on the Chandanwari route.
The Shrine Board further decided that the CEO should arrange a Special Pooja on the day of Jyestha Purnima, which falls on 4th June this year. This Pooja shall, if possible, take place at the Holy Cave or at any other suitable location in the Yatra area, to invoke the blessings of Lord Shiva for the safe and smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
Referring to the helicopter services from Pahalgam to Panjtarni, which were started in 2009 on experimental basis for about two weeks before the conclusion of Yatra, the Board noted with satisfaction that the services on the Pahalgam-Panjtarni route had been gainfully utilized by over 5000 Yatris every year during the last two Yatras. The CEO informed that fresh contractual arrangements for the helicopter services from Baltal and Pahalgam to Panjtarni are under finalization and the schedules and rates would be notified shortly.
The Board was apprised of the efforts being made to progressively upgrade the telecommunication facilities in the Yatra area. In this context, at the request of the Governor, the Union Telecommunications Department had convened a high level meeting few days ago to finalise an Action Plan for providing a further improved mobile connectivity in the entire Yatra area this year.
The Board noted that a growingly large number of pilgrims had been losing their lives during the annual Shri Amarnathji pilgrimage, particularly due to cardiac related ailments. It was further noted that 45, 68 and 107 persons had lost their lives in the 2009, 2010 and 2011 Yatras, respectively.
Taking note of the loss of precious lives during the annual Yatras, the Shrine Board had decided, in 2010, that every pilgrim seeking Registration for undertaking the Yatra must be fully aware of the serious risk involved in the pilgrimage and must self certify that he/she possessed satisfactory health status to be able to undergo the Yatra.
The Board directed that the C.E.O. should issue a very clear Advisory to inform every intending Yatri to undergo a medical check-up to assess his/her fitness for undertaking the arduous Yatra. It will generate the required awareness through release of appropriate informative features, both in the print and electronic media, for several weeks running before the Yatra begins. In this context, the Board appealed to all sections of the media to provide whole hearted support for enhancing adequate awareness of the arduous nature of the Yatra among the people at large.