Pilgrims in Jammu suffer due to lack of facilities

Even though Prime Minister Narendra Modi is focusing all his attention to hardsell the ‘neat and clean’ image of famous tourist destinations across the country, the ‘city of temples’ continues to paint a ‘dirty image’ in front of more than 35,000 tourists/pilgrims who arrive here everyday to pay obeisance inside the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi. 

In the coming days, the total footfall is expected to rise further on account of start of annual Amarnath pilgrimage but on ‘ground zero’ the State Government and railway agencies seem disenchanted to present a clean look to welcome the tourists.Stepping out of the railway station, these ‘ambassadors of peace’ had to struggle a lot to  board public transport buses en route Katra base camp. 

Sarita Uppal, visiting J&K for the first time said, “there is no proper resting place here at the railway station. I have to spend my time on the footpath littered with heaps of garbage. We are not feeling comfortable here but we have no choice as we have to board Katra-bound bus from here only.”In the absence of any resting place, adequate number of public toilets large number of pilgrims can be seen resting on the pavements and relieving themselves in open spaces.The women face hardships as they have to stand in long queue to use scanty public conveniences.Due to paucity of porters the tourists can be seen struggling with their luggage while negotiating their way out of the station premises.