The Amarnath Yatra is generally held over 42 days (File)
New Delhi:
The Amarnath Yatra shall be performed in a staggered method this 12 months, with not more than 500 pilgrims allowed per day, because of coronavirus lockdown restrictions, the federal government stated Wednesday night.
In a high-level assembly at authorities places of work in North Block in Delhi, it was determined that the yatra to a shrine sacred to devotees of Lord Shiva can be allowed for a fortnight beginning July 21.
“This 12 months solely 500 pilgrims shall be allowed in a day and that too in a staggered method,” a senior functionary within the Dwelling Ministry instructed NDTV.
Associated points, equivalent to routes, had been additionally mentioned within the assembly.
“Solely the 16-kilometre Baltal route shall be accessible this 12 months as it’s shorter and you may full the yatra in a day,” he stated.
The Pahalgam route is not going to be opened as it’s lined in snow.
The yatra, which usually takes place over 42 days, was scheduled to start from June 23 however it was delayed because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The shortened yatra will see COVID-19 particular SOPs (normal working protocols) in place, equivalent to testing of individuals from outdoors Jammu and Kashmir and social distancing.
Authorities are significantly involved as a result of the signs for COVID-19 an infection and high-altitude illness are virtually similar.
Wednesday’s assembly was attended by Union Ministers G Kishan Reddy and Jitendra Singh and senior Dwelling Ministry officers,
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor GC Murmu and Chief Secretary BVR Subrahmanyam, in addition to divisional commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir additionally attended, through video convention.
The 2019 Amarnath Yatra was lower brief following terror threats; these got here forward of the federal government’s contentious resolution on Article 370, which gave Jammu and Kashmir particular standing.
In 2018, the Amarnath Yatra was held over 60 days.
In the meantime, pilgrimages to the Vaishnodevi shrine have been suspended until July 31; it’s probably that locals will get first entry when it’s re-opened.
Jammu and Kashmir has reported almost 9,000 confirmed COVID-19 instances to this point, together with 143 deaths linked to the infectious virus.
Wednesday’s assembly additionally reviewed ongoing growth works within the union territory.
These embrace implementation of centrally sponsored schemes, progress in reaching targets below the Prime Minister’s Growth Package deal 2015, points raised in the course of the outreach efforts by union ministers in January and points associated to implementation of J&Okay Reorganisation Act.
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