Jammu and Kashmir administration has decided to cancel the annual Amarnath Yatra this year owing to safety concerns of pilgrims in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. This decision was taken during the 39th meeting of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board that was chaired by JK Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu on Tuesday. The meeting was held virtually and was called to discuss the current Covid-19 situation and its likely impact on the Amarnath Yatra.
During the meeting, the Board discussed the Supreme Court's July 13 order wherein the court had left it to the UT administration to take a call on whether to conduct the Amarnath Yatra this or not based on the assessment of ground realities.
The Board took note of the fact that over the past four months, the coronavirus pandemic has put JK's health system to its limit and that the spike in Covid-19 cases has been particularly very sharp in July. Besides this, health workers and security forces are also getting infected by Covid-19 and the focus of the entire medical, civil and police administration at the moment is on containing the local transmission of the Covid-19.
"The health concerns are so serious that the strain on the health system, along with the diversion in resources to the Amarnath Yatra, will be immense. This would also unnecessarily put the Yatris at risk of catching the Covid-19," the Board said in a statement.
The UT administration also suggested that under the prevailing circumstances, it would not be advisable to conduct the Amarnath Yatra this year in the larger public interest. It said this would be allowed the health, civil, and police administrations to focus on the immediate challenges facing them instead of diverting resources and attention to the conduct of the Amarnath Yatra.
"Based upon the circumstances, the Board decided with a heavy heart that it is not advisable to hold and conduct this year's Amarnath Yatra and expressed its regret to announce the cancellation of Yatra 2020. The Board is aware of and respects the sentiments of millions of devotees and to keep the religious sentiments alive, the Board shall continue the live telecast/virtual darshan of the morning and evening aarti. Further, the traditional rituals shall be carried out as per past practice. Also, the Chhadi Mubarak shall be facilitated by the government," the Board said in a statement.
