Helicopter service soon from Srinagar to Panchtarni to facilitate Amarnath Yatra pilgrims

Currently, helicopter services are available for the pilgrims from Baltal and Pahalgam to Panchtarni, pilgrims either walk or hire a horse ride or a palanquin to reach the Amarnath shrine from this point. 

Srinagar: As authorities are expecting a huge influx of pilgrims during the upcoming Amarnath Yatra this year, the Amarnath Shrine Board along with civil administration is working for an additional helicopter service for pilgrims directly from Srinagar to Panchtarni, which is the last destination of pilgrimage just 6 kilometres away from the holy Amarnath cave.

Currently, helicopter services are available for the pilgrims from Baltal and Pahalgam to Panchtarni, pilgrims either walk or hire a horse ride or a palanquin to reach the Amarnath shrine from this point. Both Baltal and Pahalgam are more than 100 kilometres from Srinagar.

This year, a new route is being added from Srinagar airport to Panchtarni, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir PK Pole said the step is being considered in view of the demand from the number of pilgrims who don't have much time to travel and want to take a helicopter from Srinagar to the holy cave directly. 

PK Pole said, “Majority of pilgrims want to go through helicopter from Baltal and Pahalgam, but there are some pilgrims who come by air and want to go by air from Srinagar to the cave and come back. The shrine board is working on that and it will be provided.”

The chopper service from Srinagar airport to Panjtarni will also erase the terrorist threat to the pilgrims as they need not travel by road. The administration is also ensuring the full proof security of those pilgrims who will drive by road to the base camp of Baltal or Pahalgam.