JAMMU, Feb 12: The Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB) held its landmark 50th Board meeting today at Lok Bhavan Jammu. The meeting was chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who serves as the Board’s Chairman, approving a spectacular Laser and Sound Show dedicated to ‘Baba Barfani’ to be hosted in both Srinagar and Jammu. LG Sinha announced that the Pratham Pooja for the 2026 pilgrimage will commence on June 29, 2026, coinciding with Jyeshtha Purnimaa, with the formal Yatra start date to be confirmed shortly.
The Board greenlit a series of strategic enhancements aimed at elevating the spiritual journey and overall convenience for lakhs of anticipated devotees during the 2026 Amarnath Yatra, including doubling the accidental insurance coverage from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 10 lakh for registered yatris, service providers, officials, seasonal workers, and pujaris, alongside approving comprehensive welfare initiatives for SASB employees to ensure their well-being amid the demanding pilgrimage season.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha issued precise directives to officials, calling for the identification of optimal locations along the yatra routes for installing modern toilet facilities, as well as the prompt erection of shelter sheds and rain shelters to safeguard pilgrims, service providers, and security personnel from inclement weather, emphasizing a pilgrim-centric approach to infrastructure that prioritizes safety and hygiene.
Discussions delved deeply into a wide array of critical preparedness measures, encompassing the dissemination of real-time Yatra information, pony insurance schemes, expansion of online registration and pre-paid service platforms, robust disaster preparedness and mitigation strategies, provisioning of advanced medical care facilities at key points, seamless langar and volunteer coordination, upgraded telecommunication networks, reliable grid power connectivity, sophisticated weather forecasting infrastructure, bolstered security and surveillance systems, a fully digital pre-paid hiring mechanism for services, and the strategic installation of crash barriers and safety railings along vulnerable stretches on both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes, reflecting a holistic blueprint for operational excellence.
A key highlight was the review of Yatra track maintenance, restoration, and development efforts led by the Border Roads Organisation (BRO), which reported substantial advancements, including the achievement of comfortable track widths on both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes, ensuring smoother and safer passage for the influx of pilgrims expected next year.
Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari, Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, delivered an exhaustive presentation outlining the multifaceted arrangements for the upcoming Yatra, covering logistics, resource allocation, and contingency planning to guarantee a seamless pilgrimage experience.
The high-profile meeting drew an august gathering of Shrine Board members, including spiritual luminary Swami Avdheshanand Giri Ji Maharaj, Prof. Kailash Mehra Sadhu, K.K. Sharma, K.N. Rai, Mukesh Garg, Dr. Shailesh Raina, Dr. Simridhi Bindroo, Suresh Haware, and Prof. Vishwamurti Shastri, alongside top UT Administration brass such as Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Additional Chief Secretary Shaleen Kabra (Jal Shakti), Additional Chief Secretary Shailendra Kumar (Power Development), DGP Nalin Prabhat, Principal Secretary Home Chandraker Bharti, Principal Secretary Finance Santosh D. Vaidya, administrative secretaries, Divisional Commissioners of Jammu and Kashmir, IGPs, Deputy Commissioners of Ganderbal and Anantnag, Additional CEO SASB, and senior officers from the UT Administration, BRO, and Shrine Board, participating either in-person or via virtual mode.
These forward-thinking decisions by SASB not only signal heightened commitment to devotee safety and cultural promotion but also set a robust foundation for what promises to be one of the most well-equipped Amarnath Yatras in recent years, blending tradition with modern facilitation.
