Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra which began on August 18 concluded peacefully on September 7 in the State.
Not a single report of pilgrims’ casualty was repo rted from anywhere during the yatra, though seven pilgrims had died in the last Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra.
Hundred and fifty members of State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) led by DIG Sanjay Gunjyal who were deployed along the high altitude Nanda Devi Raj Jat Yatra routes for search and rescue operations, disaster response, crowd management and route management have played important roles in the glitch-free completion of the yatra, said State Director General of Police BS Sidhu while interacting with media persons
on Monday.
However, he declined to answer the query as to why he was not appreciating the crucial role played by the local police in course of the yatra trudging through the tortuous mountainous routes.
Following the direction of State Chief Minister Harish Rawat on August 23, SDRF teams were given additional responsibility for arranging food for the pilgrims twice a day at high altitude (above Bedni Bugyal) places like Patar Nachauniya, Shila Samudra Chandinayaghat, lata Khopri and Tatra.
He further said in order to ensure round the clock medical facilities for the pilgrims at high altitude areas, seven paramedics were given special training by SDRF teams. SDRF teams comprising DIG Sanjay Gunjyal, Deputy Commandant, SDRF, Navneet Singh Bhullar, four inspectors, nine sub-inspectors, 154 constables and seven paramedics were deployed along the yatra routes.
On August 31, in view of the expected arrival of 24, 000 pilgrims at Bedni Bugyal, SDRF teams had firmed up a strategy to control stampede. Such eventualities were kept in mind because of the region’s adverse geographical features and inclement weather conditions. Around three or four thousand pilgrims were assisted to reach Shila Samudra via Patar Nachauniya, Jayuragli. SDRF members were deployed in plain clothes along the yatra routes, it was learnt.
Moreover, SDRF teams had succeeded in convincing around 15 000 pilgrims to return after they reached Baan, citing the bad weather conditions, continuing at the high attitude areas.
The SDRF teams were also given responsibility for organising community kitchens to provide free food to the pilgrims at high altitude places like Patar Nachauniya, Shila Samudra, Chandinya Ghat, lata Khopri, Gairoli Patal, Jyuragali Top, Tatar Dhar
and Sutol.
Around seven to ten thousands pilgrims were provided food per day along the yatra routes by SDRF teams. Fruits were given to those pilgrims who were on fasting during their yatra.
Team had rescued 22 pilgrims who were wounded or afflicted with fever and the like and put them at safer areas after providing them with medical aids.
Oxygen chambers were also put up at important places along the yatra routes and those requiring oxygen were supplied promptly.
Gasht Milan (police patrolling) was conducted to facilitate safe evacuation of the pilgrims who were sick. State DGP Sidhu and DIG Gunjyal announced reward of Rs20, 000 and Rs5, 000 respectively to SDRF teams for successful completion of this yatra in the State.