Amarnath yatra ready to host highest ever pilgrim footfall

Scaled up infrastructure includes six base hospitals, drones, RFID tags, helicopter service

Preparations for the annual Amarnath yatra, being held after a gap of three years, have seen a massive scaling up, with officials comparing the arrangements to that of the Kumbh Mela.

Compared to 2.85 lakh pilgrims who visited in 2018, the Jammu & Kashmir administration is expecting eight lakh footfalls this year. The annual pilgrimage, conducted via the twin routes of the famous tourist destinations of Pahalgam and Sonamarg in south and central Kashmir, respectively, was cut short in 2019, ahead of the Centre’s move to abrogate the erstwhile State’s special constitutional position.

The highest ever number of pilgrims 6.35 lakh pilgrims visited the cave shrine in 2011.

“We are expecting a high number of devotees for the annual pilgrimage this year,” Manoj Sinha, Lieutenant-Governor of the Union Territory of J&K, who is also Chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), said.

To meet the demand, the capacity of tents set up en route to the holy cave has been increased from 29,000 to 70,000. Six base hospitals have been established for the first time. COVID care hospitals are also being established with ICU facilities at Pahalgam, Baltal and Sonamarg.

"A 60-bed facility, including oxygen-fitted beds, has been set up by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) at Baltal, and a 50-bed hospital as been set up at Chandanwari. More than 300 doctors and paramedics will attend to the medical needs of the pilgrims," officials said.

The administration also utilised the services of Lieutenant General Syed Ata Hasnain (Retd.) and Major General Sudhir Bahl (Retd.) “to put disaster preparedness in place”. A ten-day stock of essentials has been created to meet any eventuality. For the first time, female rescuers have been stationed at Sheshnag in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam.