Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2015 concludes with over 3.52 lakh pilgrims paying obeisance

Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir), August 30, 2015 - The annual pilgrimage to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Amarnathji concluded today, on Shravan Purnima, amid chanting of religious hymns in the spiritual ambience of South Kashmir Himalayas. Governor of Jammu & Kashmir, who is Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) expressed satisfaction over the smooth conduct of this year’s Yatra, despite serious difficulties arising from the flash floods, cloud bursts and road blocks in the preceding weeks. The Governor complimented the Civil and Police Administrations of J&K, Central Armed Police Forces, Army, and all the involved J&K State Government departments and other agencies for the smooth conduct of Yatra-2015.

The Governor directed the CEO, SASB to ensure complete cleaning of all Camp sites and to prepare a Camp and route-wise Action Plan for Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2016, keeping in view the experiences gained during this year’s pilgrimage. He stressed that route-wise arrangements of all aspects of the Yatra must be worked out well in advance with particular focus on medicare, sanitation, cleanliness, water and power supply and other facilities and, side by side, ensuring effective protection of environment and ecology of Shri Amarnathji Yatra area. In this context, the Governor would chair a Post Shri Amarnathji Yatra Review Meeting in which over a hundred officers who were concerned with the management of Yatra will participate.

The Governor expressed concern and sympathy over the loss of life of pilgrims, service providers, shop keepers and others due to medical reasons, cloud bursts and accidents, during this year’s Yatra and stressed the need for identifying fresh and further measures which could prevent loss of precious lives in future Yatras.

The Governor asked the CEO to immediately launch a full scale post-Yatra sanitation drive, fully involving the Pahalgam and Sonamarg Development Authorities, so that the entire Yatra area is effectively cleaned up in the next few days.

The CEO stated that over 3. 52 lakh Yatris paid their obeisance at the Holy Cave Shrine during this year’s pilgrimage, which had commenced on 2nd July, both the Baltal route and the Pahalgam route.