Amarnath Yatra 2023: Administration ready, three tier security with hi-tech surveillance, secure area for pilgrims’ tents, RFID cards to pilgrims. As the administration in Jammu and Kashmir begins preparations for the upcoming Amarnath Yatra 2023, Chief Secretary J&K Arun Kumar directs all concerned authorities to provide RFID cards to service providers and pilgrims to keep track, for instant communication and directions. And security agencies have also been taken on board for elaborate security arrangements for the yatra.
In a meeting held today under the chairmanship of the Chief Secretary, all concerned top officials of the administration and police gave their inputs regarding various aspects of the pilgrimage including starting the process of registration of service providers including ponywalas, pithuwalas, laborers and other service providers. providers.
Officials have been asked to identify safe areas for pitching tents near the base camps and the holy cave. Last year, a deadly cloudburst had claimed the lives of 15 pilgrims and destroyed the approach road to the cave, which was later cleared thanks to tireless efforts by multiple agencies, including the army and police.
“Mehta directed to increase the capacity of the camps to accommodate additional pilgrims during the period of suspension of travel due to bad weather,” officials said.
The administration is focusing on such a plan at both the yatra hubs and camps so that pilgrims can get information about nearby facilities, control rooms and contact numbers.
Mehta also directed the concerned officers of Animal Husbandry and Food and Supplies Department to start the process of registration of animals including ponies and horses simultaneously. The officials gave the scheme of housing, health facility, firewood, ration, kerosene to the concerned officials.
It was also decided that both the base camp tents would be decorated with colorful lights and lights to create a festive atmosphere.
Apart from infrastructure, the main focus is security, security agencies providing security cover to the pilgrims have been asked to initiate the process so that a foolproof security plan is drawn up before the commencement of the yatra. “Modern gadgets will be used for surveillance from Jammu to the holy cave and hi-tech drones and CCTVs will be used to stay updated about all the happenings during the yatra,” officials present in the meeting said.
It is expected that a large number of pilgrims will visit Kashmir for this annual pilgrimage, which was disrupted last year due to flash floods and the holy cave.