Serving pilgrims at Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2024

Each year, hundreds of thousands of pilgrims undertake the yatra (pilgrimage) to the Amarnath Holy Cave, located in the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. It is believed that in this cave, Lord Shiva narrated the secrets of immortality and the creation of the Universe to Goddess Parvati.

Situated at an altitude of 3,888 meters, the Amarnath Holy Cave is accessible through the Pahalgam and Baltal routes. The Baltal route is a 14-kilometer trek, while the Pahalgam route is 32 kilometers. Although the Baltal route has more difficult terrain and narrower paths, pilgrims often prefer this route due to its shorter distance.

Since 2022, Vishav Manav Ruhani Kendra (VMRK) has been serving pilgrims undertaking the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. The services offered are described in these blog posts: Serving at the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2022 and Serving pilgrims at Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2023.

For the 2024 Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra scheduled from June 29, the local administration again permitted VMRK to provide pilgrimage services along the Baltal route. VMRK’s medical services included ambulance and stretcher services, and VMRK’s shuttle service from 2023 was provided again.

Preparing to serve at Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2024

Assigned to set up medical camps in Domail and Brarimarg, VMRK customized the planning for each site. Domail is located in a highland area 11.25 kilometers from the Amarnath Holy Cave and serves as the starting point of elevation for the trek. There, VMRK prepared for a larger medical camp measuring 30 x 30 feet and accordingly, acquired metal sheets, pillars, and beams for the camp.

At Brarimarg, 6.25 kilometers from the Amarnath Holy Cave, the designated location for the medical camp was on the mountainside, right beside the pilgrims’ path. Due to the limited space, VMRK made plans for a smaller medical camp using a canvas tent measuring 14×21 feet.

Given the duration of the yatra, VMRK scheduled batches of volunteers to serve in shifts of 10–15 days with overlap to ensure service continuity. Before finishing one shift, VMRK would dispatch the next batch of volunteers to arrive early and settle in before taking over.

A team of VMRK volunteers procured medical supplies for both camps and set about packing these into 70 boxes, each labeled with its contents. On June 22, a truck loaded with all the materials and the first batch of 7 volunteers departed the VMRK center in Nawan Nagar.

Meanwhile, volunteers at the center continued with the remaining preparations. The ambulance was deep cleaned and all life-saving equipment was serviced by the respective agency to ensure their smooth functioning. Four stretchers were loaded into the ambulance and emergency medicines were meticulously organized in its drawers. Four passenger vehicles were arranged for the shuttle service as well as a 4×4 vehicle for the 4×4 ambulance service.

Setting up the medical camps

The first batch of volunteers arrived on June 23 to set up the medical camps. At Domail, the rugged terrain was leveled using a backhoe loader provided by the local administration. Afterward, volunteers anchored metal pillars into the firm rocky ground and assembled the metal tent structure that became the medical camp. Behind that, a canvas tent was set up for volunteer accommodation. The entire setup was completed in 5 days, making the VMRK medical camp at Domail operational by June 29.

Next, the team moved on to set up the medical camp at Brarimarg. Mules were used to haul the materials up the narrow track in the high-altitude mountainous terrain. Volunteers used shovels and spades to expand and level the site before setting up the canvas tent. By July 1, the VMRK medical camp at Brarimarg became operational.

Despite rainfall causing intermittent interruptions and delays, both camps were operational in time. Meanwhile, VMRK’s team of medical professionals, additional volunteers, and a fleet of vehicles arrived on June 28, a day before the yatra began.