Maha Shivratri Festival from Feb 26

Reasi, Jammu (J&K), February 07, 2014 - The three day long Maha Shivratri Festival is commencing at Ransoo, the base camp of Shri Shiv Khori Shrine, from February 26. Arrangements for the religious festival and cultural events as well as security and civic amenities were finalised in a meeting chaired by District Magistrate Reasi Dr Shahid Iqbal Choudhary here today. Every year lakhs of pilgrims visit the holy cave of Lord Shiva during three days of festival. The festival will be inaugurated at 11am on February 26 and will have religious Jhankis, processions for three days. Indian Style wrestling competition and cultural programmes are being organised on the sidelines.

PHE department has been asked for proper barricading and availability of drining water supply at various locations on yatra track. BDO Pouni Rajiv Khajuria will be yatra officer and Tehsildar Rajiv Mangotra as Mela Officer. Elaborate security arrangements have been finalised for management of yatra. Parking facilities, traffic management, sanitation in Ransoo town and along track, disaster preparedness, uninterrupted power supply, proper lighting, installation of departmental stalls, organising various events, allotment of space for Langers and availability of ration were discussed threadbare. A joint control room having officials of Police, Shrine Board, a magistrate and representatives of health, PHE, PDD, RDD, Tourism and other departments will be established at TRC Ransoo for effective coordination.

Round the clock medical facilities will be made available. CMO Dr Mohd Younis was asked to display the contact number of doctors and medicos at prominent places for information of pilgrims, establish an emergency medical unit and medical facilities at three places on yatra track. Traffic department has been asked to formulate specific sectors for proper management and ARTO will arrange extra mini buses for interior roads. A special inter-departmental squad has been constituted to check overcharging and quality of eatables.

Department of PWD and PMGSY are carrying out improvement of roads for convenience of visiting pilgrims and Tourism department is overall coordinator including publicity of events and management of events. RDD has been entrusted with task of tiling along the stairs for comfort of pilgrims.

ACR Tilak Raj Sharma gave a detailed resume of various activities and assignments to be performed by officers. Divisional Commissioner Jammu who is chairman of Shiv Khori Shrine Board will review the overall arrangements it was informed.