Kashmir Impulse Desk

Srinagar, June 5

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday inaugurated a new pilgrim accommodation facility at the revered Mata Kheer Bhawani temple in Ganderbal district and opened a district emergency operations centre that authorities say will play a key role in managing this year’s Amarnath pilgrimage.

The newly constructed Yatri Bhawan, located within the premises of the Kheer Bhawani shrine at Tulmulla, has been built to provide accommodation and basic facilities for hundreds of devotees visiting one of the region’s most important Hindu religious sites.

After inaugurating the facility, Sinha said the project would significantly improve the experience of pilgrims visiting the shrine by providing safe and hygienic accommodation.

“Mata Kheer Bhawani Temple is a sacred place of faith and devotion. The new facility will enhance the capacity of the shrine to host pilgrims from different parts of the country and abroad,” he said.

The shrine, situated around 25 kilometres from Srinagar, attracts thousands of devotees every year, particularly during the annual Kheer Bhawani festival and the auspicious occasion of Jyeshtha Ashtami. It holds special significance for the Kashmiri Pandit community, many of whose members return to the Valley to participate in annual religious observances.

According to officials, the project was conceived following representations made by several delegations in 2023 seeking improved accommodation facilities for pilgrims visiting the shrine. The foundation stone was laid by Sinha during Jyeshtha Ashtami celebrations in 2024.

Constructed by the Rural Engineering Wing under the Department of Rural Development and Panchayati Raj, the facility has been built for Rs 3.85 crore.

Officials said the structure comprises a reinforced concrete building with a plinth area of nearly 3,900 square feet and is capable of accommodating approximately 800 to 900 pilgrims through floor-bedding arrangements.

“With Mata Kheer Bhawani’s blessings, I laid the foundation stone last year. My objective has been to ensure that devotees, particularly members of the Kashmiri Pandit community, receive quality facilities and a peaceful spiritual experience,” Sinha said.

Before inaugurating the facility, the lieutenant governor offered prayers at the shrine and prayed for peace, prosperity and well-being.

Later, he inaugurated the District Emergency Operations Centre and Amarnath Yatra Control Room at the Deputy Commissioner’s Office in Ganderbal.

Officials said the centre had been established to strengthen coordination and monitoring mechanisms ahead of the annual Amarnath pilgrimage, which attracts hundreds of thousands of devotees.

Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal Jatin Kishore briefed the lieutenant governor on the facility’s operational features.

According to officials, the centre integrates CCTV feeds from across Ganderbal district, including surveillance systems operated by the district administration, police and security agencies, enabling real-time monitoring from a centralised location.

The facility is also linked to a round-the-clock emergency helpline intended to provide immediate assistance and facilitate crisis response.

Authorities said the operations centre would monitor Baltal base camp, transit camps, parking areas and major approach roads used by pilgrims travelling to the Amarnath cave shrine.

Officials said the system would assist authorities in planning, crowd management, emergency response and decision-making during the pilgrimage season.

Sinha said the newly inaugurated facilities would help ensure a safer and smoother pilgrimage experience for devotees undertaking the Amarnath Yatra this year.