As on date, organizing Yatra may not be possible: SASB
Uncertainty over Amarnath yatra
Jammu: Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) today expressed its apprehension and held that as on date, it may not be possible to organize the Yatra 2020.
Lieutenant Governor, Girish Chandra Murmu, Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), presided over the 38th Board Meeting held here today at the Raj Bhavan.
The Board expressed its apprehension and held that as on date, it may not be possible to organize the Yatra 2020 due to the current COVID-2019 pandemic situation.
It was, however, decided that appropriate decision can be taken on organizing the Yatra on reviewing of the situation in coming future.
Earlier, J&K government’s information department issued a statement to media suggesting that SASB has decided to cancel this year’s Yatra.
Within minutes, it withdrew and cancelled the statement.
However, nothing else was said, giving rise to uncertainty over the 42-day-long yatra which was scheduled to commence from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on June 23.
In an official statement titled “Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2020 cancelled due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic”, a spokesman said that the decision was taken at the 38th Board meeting of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) which met under the chairmanship of Lt Governor G C Murmu at Raj Bhavan here.
However, he said the board decided that the Pratham Pooja’ and ‘Sampann Pooja’ would be done with traditional fervor.
Later, within half an hour, another official statement was issued which read, “The Press Note titled Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2020 cancelled due to outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic released vide No: PR/DI/19/7062/ may kindly be treated cancelled and withdrawn.”
However, in the late evening, a fresh statement from SASB said that as on date, it may not be possible to organize the Yatra 2020.
