Lieutenant Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha on Wednesday asked officials overseeing the Amarnath pilgrimage to be aware of the advisories issued by the Meteorological Department to avoid any untoward incident.
L-G Manoj Sinha visited the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu and reviewed the facilities and services in place for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.
A statement read, “The officials must closely monitor Meteorological Department's predictions and remain alert to any weather vagaries”.
Last year, over 100 pilgrims to the Machail Mata Yatra in Kishtwar and 35 pilgrims at Vaishno Devi track died when flash-flood triggered landslides during the monsoon season.
The L-G interacted with the officials from J&K police, Army, shrine board and civil administration and took stock of the measures taken to facilitate the comfortable stay of the pilgrims.
“With the holy pilgrimage already crossing the 3 lakh mark in just 12 days, ensuring a smooth and hassle-free experience for pilgrims is our top priority,” the L-G said. He stressed on ensuring flawless registration, comfortable lodging and smooth travel arrangements for all devotees.
He also emphasised showcasing Jammu and directed officials to organise sightseeing tours to Jammu division's key spiritual and tourism spots, while actively promoting local handicraft and handloom products.
“It is our goal that whenever Amarnath pilgrims return home, they should carry a piece of Jammu with them in the form of beautiful local handmade products and unforgettable memories. Together, we resolve to make this year’s Yatra truly historic,” the L-G said.
Sinha also reviewed the deployment of Food Safety Officers at community kitchens, facilities at reception and lodgement centres, on-spot registrations of pilgrims, transportation and security arrangements.
He directed officials to optimise manpower deployment to seamlessly manage the heavy influx of devotees throughout the yatra.
Meanwhile Director General of CISF, Praveer Ranjan, along with senior officials also visited Jammu to review the security arrangements for the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.