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LG among very few attend first aarti of Amarnath yatra 2020

| Jammu |

The first aarti of yearly Amarnath yatra 2020 took place at holy Amarnath cave Sunday (July 5th) in the presence a very few people keeping in mind the coronavirus pandemic. Only LG Jammu & Kashmir G C Murmu was present at the holy cave with a few officials and pujaris.
On Sunday being Guru Purnima, the first aarti was performed at the cave. In the wake of COVID19, Amarnath Yatra was canceled. While the new yatra dates for the general public will be announced later, no pilgrim was allowed from any route to the cave during the first aarti.
It is hoped that the Amarnath Yatra 2020 will begin from 21 July for general people.
A meeting of the sub-committee constituted by the Supreme Court for Shri Amarnathji Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir was held under the chairmanship of Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam on this day, where it was asserted that the upcoming event will have to be undertaken in a "restricted manner" due to the COVID-19 pandemic
While reviewing the preparations for Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2020, the Chief Secretary observed that in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, the State Executive Committee constituted under the Disaster Management Act has issued Standard Operating Protocols (SoPs) which, inter alia, prescribe 100% RTPCR test for all persons travelling into J&K.
He added that all entrants into J&K will have to be sampled, tested, and quarantined until they are reported to be negative. The Chief Secretary further said that the camping facilities earlier utilized for the Yatris, especially at entry points are currently being utilized as quarantine centers. He emphasised that SoPs for the testing of persons entering J&K shall apply to Yatris as well. Besides, social distancing norms would further strain these holding capacities.
The Chief Secretary said that in keeping with these circumstances, the Yatra this year would have to be undertaken in a restricted manner so that the SoPs for COVID-19 are strictly adhered to during the conduct of the Yatra.
Nine out of ten Kashmir districts are red and the entire medical system is fully stretched in handling the challenge. No doctors would be available from outside J&K for the Yatra this year. Isolation facilities will have to be created to ensure any COVID-19 challenges are addressed on an emergent basis at the Camp itself. Also, COVID and high altitude sickness symptoms are quite similar and all cases will have to be treated as deemed COVID positive in case of an emergency. Also, special arrangements will have to be made for handling dead bodies.
Given the constraints, a maximum of 500 yatris only could be allowed per day by road from Jammu. Therefore, arrangements will have to be limited to this number.
It was informed that Baba Amarnath Aarti this year will be telecast live on Doordarshan. Chief Secretary emphasised that adequate arrangements should be made to ensure uninterrupted telecast of the Aarti.