Jammu, Apr 13: Arrangements, including RFID cards, new bridges and uninterrupted power supply, have been finalised for the annual Machail Mata Yatra commencing on April 14 in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kishtwar, officials said on Monday.
Kishtwar Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Kumar Sharma, along with Senior Superintendent of Police Naresh Singh, reviewed arrangements during their two-day visit to Paddar, including a meeting at base camp at Gulabgarh and a public darbar at Machail, the officials said.
Last year, a devastating cloudburst struck Chisoti village — the gateway to the Machail Mata shrine on August 14 — leaving 63 people, mostly devotees, dead and leaving around 30 missing.
The floods also washed away a bridge and damaged several other structures, severely disrupting connectivity and leaving the area’s infrastructure in shambles.
The deputy commissioner reviewed the progress of ongoing development works, with a focus on road connectivity, bridge construction and creation of basic facilities, the officials said.
Sharma directed the concerned departments to ensure adequate provision of basic amenities, including drinking water, electricity supply, sanitation facilities, and healthcare services, for the convenience and safety of pilgrims.
Sharma said the administration will issue RFID cards this year, stressing the need to create awareness among pilgrims regarding the usage of such cards for effective crowd management and security.
He also directed the police to strengthen security arrangements with additional deployment of personnel, installation of surveillance systems and establishment of checkpoints along the Yatra route.
Sharma directed the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) to construct a temporary Bailey bridge at village Chisoti on the Atholi-Machail Road for better connectivity, as the previous bridge was washed away in last year’s cloudburst.
He informed that the work on the permanent bridge shall be taken up subsequently by the BRO, the officials said, adding that the deputy commissioner also directed them to expedite work on the Atholi-Pallali road and accelerate the construction of the Massu bridge to enhance connectivity in the area.
The Public Works Department (Roads and Buildings) was directed to complete ongoing works at Machail, including the Yatri Bhawan and Tehsil Office and to put in place an effective queue management system for the smooth conduct of the Yatra, officials said.
They said the health department was directed to deploy medical teams, including doctors at both Gulabgarh and Machail, equipped with essential diagnostic facilities, life-saving drugs, and deployment of ambulances at strategic locations to handle emergencies.
The Jammu Power Distribution Corporation Limited was directed to make concrete arrangements for uninterrupted power supply at Machail with adequate backup arrangements, including generators at critical locations, while telecom service providers were directed to strengthen mobile connectivity along the Yatra route for the convenience of pilgrims, the officials said.
