Lok Sabha Question No. 89 (STARRED), answered on 2018-07-24
Subject: Safety and Security of Pilgrims
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN, ANURAG SINGH THAKUR

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *89

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 24 TH  JULY, 2018 / SHRAVANA 2, 1940 (SAKA)

SAFETY AND SECURITY OF PILGRIMS

*89. SHRI ASHOK SHANKARRAO CHAVAN: SHRI ANURAG SINGH THAKUR:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

(a)  the  estimated  number  of  pilgrims  likely  to  visit  the  holy  shrine  of Amarnath during the current year;

(b)  whether  there  are  intelligence  inputs  suggesting  threats  of  terrorist attacks on Amarnath pilgrims, if so, the details thereof and the reaction of the  Government  thereto  along  with  the  security  arrangements  made  for Amarnath Yatra by the Government;

(c) whether incidents of stone pelting on the vehicles of pilgrims going to the holy shrine of Amarnath have come to the notice of the Government and if so, the details thereof along with the corrective  measures taken/being taken by the Government in this regard;

(d)  whether  the  Government  is  aware  that  the  route  covered  under  the Amarnath  Yatra  is  in  difficult  terrain  and  accident-prone  and  if  so,  the details  thereof  along  with  the  number  of  accidents  reported,  persons died/injured and the compensation paid to the victims during the last three years; and

(e)  the  further  steps  taken/being  taken  by  the  Government for the safety and security of the pilgrims visiting the holy shrine of Amarnath?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI HANSRAJ GANGARAM AHIR)

(a) to (e):

A Statement is laid on the Table of the House.

## STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN THE REPLY TO THE LOK SHABHA STARRED QUESTION NO. *89 FOR 24.07.2018 REGARDING SAFETY AND SECURITY OF PILGRIMS

(a)  to  (e):        As  per  the  information  made  available  by  Shri  Amarnathji Shrine Board, 2,68,591 pilgrims have  registered for Shri  Amarnathji darshan till 19.07.2018.

Adequate arrangements for safety and security of the pilgrims have been  made  along  the  Yatra  routes.  These  include  deployment  of  local police and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), upgradation of tracks and fixing  railings  along  the  critical  stretches  of  the  tracks,  provision  of medical facilities, deployment of mountain rescue teams, NDRF and SDRF teams  on  strategic  locations,  installation  of  ten  Automatic  Weather Stations, etc. One incident of Stone pelting on two Yatra buses has been reported on 11.07.2018. No Yatri was injured in the incident.

Shri  Amarnathji  Yatra  does  pass  through  difficult  and  inhospitable terrain  prone  to  landslides,  shooting  stone,  snow  avalanches,  etc.  The climate conditions en-route and at the Holy Cave are unpredictable. The number of pilgrims who died and injured during the Yatra in the last three years is as given below:

|   Year |   Number of deaths |   Number of Injured Yatris |
|--------|--------------------|----------------------------|
|   2015 |                 38 |                         16 |
|   2016 |                 22 |                         31 |
|   2017 |                 29 |                         72 |

## L.S.S.Q NO. *89 FOR 24.07.2018

Details of the compensation paid during the last three years are as under:

| Year   | Ex-gratia relief disbursed to NOKs of deceased Yatris   | Ex-gratia relief disbursed to NOKs of deceased Yatris   | Insurance claim disbursed to NOKs of deceased Yatris   | Insurance claim disbursed to NOKs of deceased Yatris   | Ex-gratia relief disbursed to the injured Yatris   | Ex-gratia relief disbursed to the injured Yatris   |
|--------|---------------------------------------------------------|---------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|--------------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|----------------------------------------------------|
|        | Number                                                  | Amount (in Rs. lakh)                                    | Number                                                 | Amount (in Rs. lakh)                                   | Number                                             | Amount (in Rs. lakh)                               |
| 2015   | 05                                                      | 3.00                                                    | 03                                                     | 3.00                                                   | Nil                                                | Nil                                                |
| 2016   | 09                                                      | 6.25                                                    | 03                                                     | 3.00                                                   | Nil                                                | Nil                                                |
| 2017   | 10                                                      | 43.50                                                   | 17                                                     | 51.00                                                  | 36                                                 | 33.00                                              |
| Total  | 24                                                      | 52.75                                                   | 23                                                     | 57.00                                                  | 36                                                 | 33.00                                              |

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