'Snow clearance required to restore tracks leading to Amarnath

A major snow clearance operation is required to restore the twin tracks leading to the 3,880 metre high holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas ahead of the annual 59-day yatra scheduled to commence next month.
"As of now, the Yatra Camp sites at Holy Cave, Panjtarni and Sheshnag are covered with 6-7 feet of snow and the tracks, from Chandanwari onwards on the Pahalgam axis and from Domel onwards from the Baltal axis would require major clearing and repairs," an official spokesman said here.
Giving details of aerial recce of Yatra routes conducted by Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra today, the spokesman said the restoration of tracks on the Chandanwari-Holy Cave axis along 45-km Pahalgam route in Anantnag district is being taken up by the Pahalgam Development Authority and by the State Public Works Department on the 16-km shorter Baltal-Shrine axis in Ganderbal district.

"This important work will be able to gain the required momentum, depending upon sustained fair weather conditions," the spokesman said.
Vohra, who is also Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), conducted an aerial survey of the entire Yatra area, along both the routes.
Accompanied by CEO, SASB, P K Tripathi, the Governor travelled along the panjtarni-Sheshnag-Chandanwari-Pahalgam axis to gain a first hand view of the existing snow accumulation levels, the spokesman said.

The Governor impressed upon the concerned agencies to immediately increase the ongoing work and ensure that the tracks are cleared of the snow and all the facilities required for the Yatra are put in place well in time.

The yatra is scheduled to commence from the twin tracks on July 2.
During his day-long visit to the Yatra area after completing the aerial recce, the spokesman said the Governor held review meetings at the Baltal and Nunwan Base Camps.