Amarnath tragedy

The vagaries of weather can wreak havoc without a minute’s notice, but stock-taking is essential following the tragedy near the Amarnath cave shrine. This year’s yatra, billed as the biggest ever and the first after 2019, is being undertaken under unprecedented risk-cover arrangements and the security forces, living up to their reputation, have exhibited exemplary dedication to duty in rescuing and evacuating pilgrims. Yet, questions are bound to be raised over intense localised rainfall on the fateful day not being predicted, and why tents were allowed to be pitched at the same site where a flash flood had occurred in July-end last year, though there was no pilgrimage owing to the pandemic.

Given the number of devotees and the logistics involved, any amount of preparation can fall short. Over the years, those tasked with making the annual pilgrimage a success have upgraded procedures, refined protocols and put to use various technical aids. Last week’s devastation, however, requires going back to the drawing board — from increasing the number of automated weather stations along the entire stretch and even beyond, depending on more sophisticated tools for accurate assessment of clouds and rainfall, to the mandatory presence of a disaster relief group in every batch of pilgrims, to even exploring the idea of training volunteers among the pilgrims for emergency assistance.

In view of the security threat after the targeted killings in the Kashmir valley, every yatri is being given a Radio Frequency Identification tag this year to keep track of all the pilgrims. The tag, reports suggest, proved to be of much help on the day of the disaster to ascertain how many people had crossed into the area closest to the cave, though some had taken it off while resting. A technological transformation of the pilgrimage offers a viable solution in the long run, vastly improving the scope for pre-emptive action in case of any imminent danger, and quick reaction if nature unleashes its fury.

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