Amarnath Yatra normally takes place over 42 days (File)
New Delhi:
The Amarnath Yatra will be staggered this year, with no more than 500 pilgrims allowed per day, due to coronavirus locking restrictions, the government announced on Wednesday evening.
At a high-level meeting in government offices in the North Building in Delhi, it was decided that the yatra of a sacred shrine for the followers of Lord Shiva would be authorized for a fortnight from July 21.
“This year, only 500 pilgrims will be allowed in one day and this in a staggered manner,” a senior interior ministry official told GalacticGaming.
Related issues, such as routes, were also discussed at the meeting.
“Only the 16-kilometer route from Baltal will be accessible this year because it is shorter and you can finish the yatra in one day,” he said.
The Pahalgam road will not be open because it is covered with snow.
The yatra, which normally takes place over 42 days, was scheduled to start on June 23, but was delayed due to the coronavirus epidemic.
The shortened yatra will see COVID-19 specific SOPs (standard operating protocols) in place, such as tests on people outside Jammu and Kashmir and social distancing.
Authorities are particularly concerned because the symptoms of COVID-19 infection and high altitude illness are almost identical.
Wednesday’s meeting brought together Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Jitendra Singh and senior interior ministry officials,
The Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir GC Murmu and the Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, as well as the Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir were also present by videoconference.
The 2019 Amnath Yatra has been shortened following terrorist threats; these preceded the disputed decision of the government on article 370, which granted Jammu and Kashmir a special status.
In 2018, the Amarnath Yatra took place over 60 days.
Meanwhile, pilgrimages to the Vaishnodevi shrine were suspended until July 31; it is likely that residents will have the first access when it reopens.
Jammu and Kashmir has so far reported nearly 9,000 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 143 deaths from the infectious virus.
Wednesday’s meeting also reviewed development work underway in the Union.
These include the implementation of programs sponsored by the central government, progress in achieving the goals under the 2015 Prime Minister’s development package, issues raised during awareness raising efforts by union ministers in January and problems related to the implementation of the J&K reorganization law.
