STATE TIMES NEWS
UDHAMPUR: The first batch of Amarnath pilgrims was welcomed and warmly received by the people and District Administration near Holy Devika this morning.
Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Niraj Kumar, Additional Deputy Commissioner, Angrez Singh Rana, Joint Director planning, Rakesh Jamwal, Assistant Commissioner, Revenue, Subhash Dogra, Assistant Commissioner Development, Joginder Rai, Additional SP, M.L Kaith, DTO, Romesh Singh, CMO, Dr. Chander Parkash, officers of different department and prominent citizens were present on the occasion.
A large number of people and the district authorities received the first batch of the pilgrims comprising of 1282 pilgrims near Holy Devika rivulet where civil and police administration welcomed the pilgrims and offered light refreshment like sweets, biscuits and drinking water to the pilgrims.
The District authorities have established 35 transit Camps and various Langars for the pilgrims. Besides this medical assistance camps, helplines, a Police Control Room and many Enquiry counters in Udhampur, Tikri and Chenani have also been setup for the convenience of the pilgrims. District Police has made elaborate security arrangements for the safety and security of the Yatris.
Langar arrangements for pilgrims reviewed
RAMBAN: On the first day of the Shri Amarnath Yatra, District Development Commissioner, Ramban Mohammad Aijaz Asad inspected Langars at various sites in the district including Shatani Nallah and Kella Morh on Jammu-Srinagar NH-44. The DDC directed the Langar organizers to provide healthy food and clean drinking water to the pilgrims, besides ensuring cleanliness in and around the Langar site.
Standard Operating Procedures should be followed by Langar managers to ensure smooth service to the pilgrims, he added.
The officers of the concerned departments were directed to ensure adequate security arrangements, sanitation, water supply, power supply, fire safety equipments and healthcare arrangements for the pilgrims at various Langar venues.
The DDC directed SSP, Ramban Randeep Kumar and SSP, Traffic, NHW Sanjay Kotwal to take measures for preventing traffic snarls on the National Highway and keep strict vigil on NH-44 between Patnitop and Jawahar Tunnel to avoid any untoward incident.
