The Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, which was suspended after the landslides on 26 August that claimed 35 lives, will resume tomorrow.
Photo: SNS
The Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), Sachin Kumar Vaishya, on Saturday held a meeting with officers of the Army, CRPF, J&K Police, and fire and emergency services to review the preparations for the upcoming Navratras scheduled to begin from 22 September and continue till 1 October.
The Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, which was suspended after the landslides on 26 August that claimed 35 lives, will resume tomorrow.
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The CEO underscored that Navratras are just round the corner, and the Board is expecting a considerable influx of devotees at the Holy Shrine as well as at the base camp in Katra. He stressed the importance of synergy among all stakeholders during the Navratras festival and exhorted action on multiple fronts for a hassle-free pilgrimage in the coming days.
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As per the directions of the Chairman, SMVDSB (Lt. Governor, J&K-UT), the CEO stressed the importance of disaster management preparedness, including firefighting arrangements and simulation exercises. He directed that SDRF personnel work in tandem with SMVDSB’s Disaster Management Task Force to monitor vulnerable areas and enhance crowd management capabilities.
The CEO instructed the installation of additional signage along the track, regular public announcements, and joint beat monitoring to decongest crowds and designate holding areas. He emphasised the readiness of gas cutters and essential rescue tools across all sectors and called for strengthening the communication network by reviving wireless sets and enhancing infrastructure for seamless coordination.
Effective utilisation of the Integrated Command and Control Centre was underscored for real-time monitoring and response. The CEO reiterated that pilgrims must carry valid RFID cards to undertake the yatra, and additional handheld scanners with sufficient staff will be deployed to enforce this directive.
Measures to verify the credentials of pony operators were discussed to prevent impersonation and ensure their legitimate presence on the yatra track. SDM Katra was instructed to identify additional holding areas in Katra to accommodate pilgrims in case of yatra suspension due to inclement weather.
Further directions were issued regarding vehicular movement, sanitation, drinking water arrangements, and illumination of dark spots in Katra town. The CEO called for physical and systemic improvements wherever required after critical examination.
Representatives of security agencies highlighted key challenges for the deployed security forces in the coming days for managing the expected influx of pilgrims during the Navratras.
SSP Reasi and CRPF Commandant presented a detailed security grid in place and discussed various security measures going to be placed during the Navratras at Katra and en route to the Holy Shrine, besides deployment of QRTs (quick response teams) and a multi-tier security grid comprising police, CRPF, and other paramilitary forces.
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