Headlines
Snowfall ensures higher Amarnath Shivling, but communications a challenge
By
Aadil MirSrinagar, June 28
With just a few days left
for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage to commence, the sacred Shivling in
the cave shrine, located at a height of 3,888 metres in south Kashmir,
is higher thanks to heavy snowfall in the region but snow clearance
along the traditional route the pilgrims take is proving to be a
challenge, officials said.
The annual pilgrimage begins on July 2
and the holy Shivling (the traditional icon of Lord Shiva believed to
have been formed through natural formation) is already at 13 feet,
against an average of 10-11 feet in the past few years.
"This
year the Valley has witnessed heavy snowfall and the temperature
remained low, which helped the formation of the holy ling, which at this
point of time it is in better form," Chief Yatra officer Basheer Ahmad
Khan told IANS.
"This year, it is likely to remain for long, which will attract more than expected pilgrims," he added.
The
Amarnath yatra will be of 59 days' duration this year, a long-pending
demand of the Sangh Parivar organisations. A decision on this was taken
earlier this year at a meeting of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board chaired
by Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra.
But the heavy snowfall has its downside.
"The
track opening is always a challenge for Amarnath Yatra, that too when
weather does not cooperate with you. But we are sure we will restore the
track and the snow will be cleared from the track before the
commencement of pilgrimage," Reyaz Ahmad Wani, chief executive, Pahalgam
Development Authority, told IANS.
Authorities faced hardships
during the clearance and other arrangements due to fresh snowfall on the
32-km-long track from Chandanwari to the cave which was comparatively
heavier than previous years.
But the authorities assured that arrangements are being made to ensure the track is opened in time.
"Every
arrangement for the Shri Amarnath Ji yatra is in place. Even tent
suppliers and langarwalas have installed their tents and langars at
different padaws (spots) of the track up to the cave in Himalayas," Khan
said.
"There are specific arrangements for electricity, water
and medicine. The departments concerned have strict orders to follow the
Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) of the yatra and every yatri will be
facilitated in every respect," he added.
Security has always
remained a challenge to tackle any kind of situation. The Indian Army
has launched "Operation Shiva" along the Baltal and Pahalgam routes to
esnure better coordination between its troops, the paramilitary CRPF and
the local police.
This had led to a strong security grid being
put in place along both routes to prevent any untoward incidents during
the pilgrimage.
All arrangements are in place to ensure the
security of the pilgrims, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir Division)
S.J.M. Geelani had said earlier this week, adding that security has
been strengthened at all sensitive places including railway stations and
bus stands.
(Aadil Mir can be contacted at [email protected])