J&K Adm Reviews Arrangements for Machail Mata Yatra

SRINAGAR, May 19: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday reviewed arrangements for the annual Machail Mata Yatra in Kishtwar district, scheduled to begin in August this year.

Chairing a high-level meeting, Dulloo assessed preparedness for the safe and smooth conduct of the pilgrimage and reviewed implementation of directions issued after last year’s cloudburst along the yatra route.

A cloudburst on August 14, 2025, at Chisoti village—the gateway to the Machail Mata shrine—had left 63 people dead, mostly pilgrims, while several others were injured and around 30 went missing.

Officials informed the meeting that multiple safety and monitoring measures have been put in place, including online and RFID-based registration, installation of Automatic Rain Gauges (ARG) and Automatic Weather Stations (AWS), and formulation of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for disaster response and crowd management.

Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar said accommodation arrangements are being expanded at Kishtwar, Gulabgarh, Chisoti and Machail, with additional government facilities, private lodgings, homestays, tented shelters, and a dedicated tent city planned for pilgrims.

The meeting was also informed that 100 per cent online registration and RFID-enabled tracking will be implemented for real-time monitoring of pilgrims, along with deployment of staff at sensitive locations.

Authorities said landslide mitigation measures and strengthening of monitoring systems are being undertaken along vulnerable stretches of the route to enhance safety.

Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Pankaj Kumar Sharma briefed the meeting on traffic regulation and transport management plans to ensure smooth movement and quick restoration of road connectivity if disrupted.

The Chief Secretary also reviewed medical preparedness, including deployment of medical camps, ambulances, emergency response teams, and first-aid facilities along the route.

Officials were directed to ensure inter-departmental coordination, uninterrupted essential services, and strict maintenance of cleanliness and environmental protection throughout the pilgrimage period. (Agencies)