logo
NHAI holds review meet to assess preparations for Amarnath Yatra

NHAI holds review meet to assess preparations for Amarnath Yatra

The Hindu5 days ago
The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) held a review meeting on Tuesday (July 1, 2025) regarding the preparedness for Amarnath pilgrimage set to commence on July 3.
The meeting was aimed at assessing the preparedness related to highway riding surface, lane markings, road safety measures as well as deployment of dedicated quick response teams.
A detailed review was held for all stretches along the 228 km-long Jammu-Srinagar section of NH-44 that falls on the pilgrimage route under NHAI's jurisdiction. The Amarnath temple or shrine is located in Anantnag district of Jammu and Kashmir.
NHAI chairman Santosh Kumar Yadav emphasised on the need for comfort and safety of both devotees and commuters. Alok Deepankar, Member (Technical), NHAI instructed field officers to ensure adequate deployment of manpower and machinery to manage emergencies related to inclement weather, or flash floods and landslides.
He also directed officials to expedite work on the under-construction sections.
NHAI also contributed a fleet of five ambulances through Quazigund Expressway Pvt. Ltd. for hospitals in Ramban and Anantnag districts, which were flagged off by J&K Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Apart from NHAI Chairman and Member (Technical), the J&K Government's PWD Secretary Bhupinder Kumar, Additional Commissioner of Ramban, Shokit Mattoo ACR Ramban, and NHAI officials from J&K field offices were also present during the meeting.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

BRO improves pathway to Amarnath for ease of devotees: Director General Lt General Raghu Srinivasan
BRO improves pathway to Amarnath for ease of devotees: Director General Lt General Raghu Srinivasan

India Gazette

time8 hours ago

  • India Gazette

BRO improves pathway to Amarnath for ease of devotees: Director General Lt General Raghu Srinivasan

New Delhi [India], July 6 (ANI): Border Roads Organisation (BRO) Director General (DG) Lieutenant General Raghu Srinivasan on Sunday informed that the statutory body under the Defence Ministry has been tasked to improve the stretches taken by the devotees for the Amarnath yatra. The tracks for the two approaches - Chandanwari and Baltal - taken by the devotees to the Amarnath yatra in Jammu and Kashmir, which were merely three to four feet wide, have been widened to 12 feet, he added. 'We are very fortunate and blessed as the BRO to be associated with the projects involving religious destinations in the extreme parts of our northern borders. The Amarnath Yatra has two approaches: one from Chandanwari and one from Baltal. The tracks of both these approaches were initially just three to four feet wide. We were honoured that the LG, Manoj Sinha, had tasked the Border Roads Organisation with improving the 45 km long stretches of the Amarnath Shrine. The stretches have been widened to 12 feet,' Lt General Srinivasan told ANI. He further stated that the BRO had taken effective measures to ensure that the geological conditions were not disturbed in the eco-sensitive region. He added that handrails for 32 kilometres along the Amaranth route have been installed for the ease of devotees. 'What has also been done is that considering the extreme religious significance of this location, extreme care has been taken to ensure that the geological conditions are not disturbed, the eco-sensitivities are maintained, and that whatever work we had to carry out was done by prudent technical means. We are very grateful that we got this task, and we are hopeful that the Amarnath yatra, with its due reverence, is completed,' Lt General Srinivasan said. The pilgrims undertaking the annual Amarnath Yatra have expressed appreciation for the security forces and the overall arrangements along the Pahalgam route, saying that they feel safe and supported in their spiritual journey to the Holy Cave of Shri Amarnath Ji. Earlier on Saturday, Union Minister Jitendra Singh stated that around 26,000-27,000 pilgrims have visited the Amarnath Yatra since the start of the annual pilgrimage, dispelling the misconception that the enthusiasm of pilgrims would decrease following the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The Union Minister attributed the high turnout of pilgrims as a testament to the government's success and said that people have confidence that, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there would be no shortcomings in the security arrangements. (ANI)

J&K: 36 Amarnath pilgrims injured as bus hits others
J&K: 36 Amarnath pilgrims injured as bus hits others

Time of India

timea day ago

  • Time of India

J&K: 36 Amarnath pilgrims injured as bus hits others

JAMMU/SRINAGAR: At least 36 Amarnath pilgrims suffered minor injuries Saturday after a bus hit another in a Pahalgam-bound convoy that had stopped at Chanderkote in J&K's Ramban district for breakfast, triggering a chain collision among four buses. The accident occurred around 7.15am after the driver of the first bus reportedly lost control due to brake failure. The pilgrims in the buses were part of a larger group of 6,979 who had left for the cave shrine in Kashmir from a base camp in Jammu. The mishap prompted a directive from J&K lieutenant-governor Manoj Sinha for comprehensive safety measures in vehicles ferrying Amarnath pilgrims. He asked officials to ensure checks at all key locations and guarantee uninterrupted availability of food and medicines along the yatra route. 'By the blessings of Lord Shiva, all devotees are safe. Our priority is the safety of all pilgrims,' a govt spokesman said. The 36 injured were treated at Ramban District Hospital and discharged. Most carried on with their journey. The bus whose driver lost control was damaged and its pilgrims were shifted to another vehicle, Ramban SSP Kulbir Singh said, adding only three to four of the injured changed their mind and decided not to go further. 'Most of the injuries were minor and all affected yatris were discharged after first aid,' said Ramban deputy commissioner Ilyas Khan, who had rushed with other senior officials to the spot in Chanderkote. LG Sinha spoke to Khan to provide all necessary assistance to the injured pilgrims. According to SSP Singh, the private bus that lost control was from Madhya Pradesh. 'The yatra convoy had halted for breakfast at Chanderkote Langer (a community kitchen that provides free food to devotees),' SSP Singh said. Earlier in the morning, the 6,979 pilgrims had left the base camp in Jammu braving heavy rain, officials said. This is the fourth Amarnath batch since the over month-long yatra started on July 3. The 5,196 men, 1,427 women, 24 children and 332 others, including monks, left in two convoys between 3.30am and 4am amid tight security, officials said. (Inputs from Naseer Ganai in Srinagar)

"Misconception that pilgrims would decrease after Pahalgam attack": Jitendra Singh on large turnout at Amarnath Yatra
"Misconception that pilgrims would decrease after Pahalgam attack": Jitendra Singh on large turnout at Amarnath Yatra

India Gazette

timea day ago

  • India Gazette

"Misconception that pilgrims would decrease after Pahalgam attack": Jitendra Singh on large turnout at Amarnath Yatra

Kathua (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 5 (ANI): Union Minister Jitendra Singh on Saturday said that around 26,000-27,000 pilgrims have visited the Amarnath Yatra since the commencement of the annual pilgrimage on July 2, dispelling the misconception that the enthusiasm of pilgrims would decrease after the Pahalgam terrorist attack. The Union Minister attributed the turnout of the pilgrims as a testament to the success of the government and said that people have confidence that, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, there would be no shortcomings in the security arrangements. 'So far, 26,000-27,000 pilgrims have visited the Amarnath Yatra. The misconception that the enthusiasm of pilgrims would decrease after the Pahalgam terrorist attack has been dispelled. People have such confidence that with Prime Minister Modi in charge, they know there will be no shortcomings in their security arrangements,' said Jitendra Singh. 'People from every section of society, both from within the country and abroad, are coming for the Amarnath Yatra. This is a testament to the success of the government,' he added. Security arrangements have been strengthened across Jammu and Kashmir, including Udhampur, as the annual pilgrimage progresses through the Baltal and Pahalgam routes. The annual pilgrimage, which began on Thursday, is being conducted via the Baltal and Pahalgam routes. The Jammu-Srinagar Highway is a key route for the thousands of pilgrims heading to the holy site. Earlier, authorities set up 17 medical camps at langar sites, established mini hospitals, and deployed ambulances across the Ramban district as the 38-day Amarnath pilgrimage commences today, weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead following religious profiling. A fresh batch of pilgrims set off for the holy cave of Shri Amarnath Baba on Saturday morning, chanting 'Har Har Mahadev' and 'Bam Bam Bhole' as they began their journey. One pilgrim at the Baltal base camp, who was visiting the Amarnath shrine for the 14th time, praised the arrangements. 'I am from Sangrur, Punjab. This is the 14th time I have come for the Amarnath Yatra. There is no need to rush. The arrangements made by the government are excellent,' he told ANI. (ANI)

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store