Srinagar, August 12 (TKM: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday felicitated the officers of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), Administration, J&K Police, Army, CAPFs, BRO, service providers, medical professionals, NGOs and other stakeholders for the successful conduct of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2025.
At a felicitation ceremony held at Raj Bhawan Auditorium, the LG congratulated the people of J&K for making the holy pilgrimage a rich spiritual experience for devotees.
“More than 4.14 lakh devotees from across the country and abroad paid obeisance to Baba Barfani. Their enthusiasm and devotion, along with the successful conduct of the pilgrimage, was a befitting reply to the enemy’s design of destabilising peace in J&K,” LG Sinha said.
He expressed gratitude to officers, civil society groups, Swachhagrahis, sanitation workers, volunteers, ponywalas, pithuwalas, Disaster Response Forces, Army, Police, security personnel, media fraternity and all stakeholders for their coordinated efforts.
The LG lauded the commitment of intelligence agencies and officials on Yatra duty for ensuring a safe, hassle-free and spiritually enriching journey for pilgrims.
“Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra is a confluence of humanity and faith. Every pilgrim is now a brand ambassador for Jammu Kashmir,” he remarked, urging officials to apply lessons from this year’s pilgrimage for future improvements.
The LG also expressed gratitude to the Government of India for its continuous support and guidance, while paying homage to the civilians killed by Pakistan-sponsored terrorists in Pahalgam.
This year’s Yatra saw comprehensive medical arrangements with two 100-bed hospitals at base camps, 1,222 medical professionals, 90 medical facilities, 26 oxygen booths, and 45 ambulances including nine critical care units.
For the first time, emergency communication systems were installed at seven key points, resolving nearly 100 distress calls, alongside real-time health screening of pilgrims. The prepaid service system benefited 1.84 lakh pilgrims using palanquins and ponies, curbing overcharging and ensuring transparency.
The Shrine Board, with the Rural Sanitation Department, implemented a zero-landfill approach, installing 7,000 toilets and deploying 6,500 Swachhagrahis to maintain cleanliness.
Major track improvements between 2022 and 2024 included widening most routes to 12 feet, installing safety railings, and conducting disciplined inspections. An RFID-based tracking system was introduced for all registered pilgrims and service providers, alongside 24×7 live monitoring through CCTV and head-count cameras.
Continuous electricity supply, underground optical fibre cables, and a wireless intranet network were established, while PTZ cameras, static cameras, and RFID readers enhanced security.
New Yatri Niwas facilities were dedicated at Pantha Chowk, Srinagar, and Baltal, Ganderbal, to serve pilgrims.
The ceremony was attended by Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, DGP Nalin Prabhat, GOC 15 Corps Lt Gen Prashant Srivastava, CEO SASB Dr Mandeep K Bhandari, and senior civil, police, CAPF, Army, and Shrine Board officials.(TKM)
