- विज्ञापन -
Srinagar, July 3: Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri and J&K Lt Governor (L-G) Manoj Sinha will inaugurate Baltal Yatri Niwas and Disaster Management facility on July 4, which will cater to the needs of the Amarnath Yatra.
Three more such facilities are presently being built in Pahalgam, Bijbehara in the Valley and Sidhra in the Jammu division. This initiative is part of the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Limited (ONGC) corporate social responsibility (CSR).
New permanent healthcare facilities for pilgrims
These projects not only cater to the annual Amarnath Yatra but also provide year-round benefits to local residents, including permanent healthcare facilities.
The Baltal Yatri Niwas and Disaster Management Complex, spread across 6,315 square metres, is now fully operational and includes a Yatri Niwas, VIP guest house, security infrastructure, and disaster-response facilities.
In 2024, ONGC also constructed permanent 100-bed hospitals at Baltal (Ganderbal) and Chandanwari (Anantnag), in collaboration with the Government of Jammu & Kashmir. These facilities, which include ICUs and staff accommodations, replace the earlier temporary medical camps and now serve as year-round Primary Health Centres for yatris and residents.
More Yatri Niwas Projects Under Construction
Three more such centres are being constructed at:
⇒Pahalgam (Nunwan – 8,500 sq. m)
⇒Bijbehara (7,640 sq. m) – completion by September 2025
⇒Sidhra (Jammu) – a major boarding and disaster-response hub, to be ready by September 2026
Yatra begins amid tight security
The Yatra started on Thursday as hundreds of Yatris moved towards the holy cave shrine, both from central Kashmir, Baltal, and south Kashmir, Pahalgam base camps. The 36-day Yatra will conclude on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals. The Baltal trek from base camp to cave shrine is 14 km long, while the Pahalgam trek is 46 km long.
