Shri Amarnath Yatra 2020: Only 500 Yatris To Be Allowed From Jammu, Know About The Covid-19 Precautions

Amid Covid-19 scare, here are is how the Amarnath Yatra in Jammu will be carried out this year.

File Image: AFP

Amarnath Yatra 2020: A high-level meeting of the Sub- Committee for Shri Amarnathji Yatra was held in Jammu today to take stock of the preparation for the yatra.   Headed by J&K Chief Secretary, B V R Subrahmanyam the meeting was attended by other senior functionaries through video conference. Yatra, which was scheduled to start from 23 June, is likely to start from 21st July, with first pooja on 5th July at the cave and Pahalgam. Given the constraints due to corona lockdown, a maximum of only 500 pilgrims would be allowed per day by road from Jammu. During the review of the preparations for Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2020, it was decided that as per the Disaster Management Act and SoPs for Covid19, a 100% RTPCR test will be conducted for all persons traveling into J&K for the yatra. And all pilgrims and sadhus will be sampled, tested and quarantined till they are reported to be negative. Keeping in view the social distancing norms, Yatra this year would be undertaken in a restricted manner so that the SoPs for Covid-19 are strictly adhered to during the conduct of the Yatra. Yatra this year will be conducted only through a 14 Km long Baltal route, as it will involve lesser track maintenance from Baltal to Holy Cave. To facilitate the yatra construction of additional Helipads at Lower Holy Cave and construction of sanitization tunnels at Neelgrath Helipad, Baltal and Domel have been completed. Keeping in view the present Coronavirus pandemic situation, adequate stock of drugs, consumable items, sleeping bags, besides PPE kits and masks have been made available to the doctors and paramedical staff being deployed for Yatra duty. While two base Hospitals are also being established along the Baltal route. However. 9 out of 10 Kashmir districts in Red healthcare will be a critical point during the yatra as No doctors from outside J&K will be available for the Yatra this year. However, Isolation facilities will have to be created to ensure any Covid-19 challenges are addressed on an emergent basis at the Camp itself, besides measures to handle dead bodies. Baba Amarnath Aarti will be telecast live on Doordarshan as adequate arrangements have been made to ensure unhindered telecast of the Aarti. WATCH | Delhi: Covid-19 recovery rate crosses 70% in the national capital