Provide concrete road to Amarnath pilgrims: SC to J&K govt

The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to pave the passage from Panchtarni to Amarnath holy cave with pre-fabricated cement tiles to ensure that pilgrims do not slip on the way.

A bench of justices B S Chauhan and Swatanter Kumar also said that side support too be provided for the pilgrims.

"You have to put something so that people do not slip. Pre-fabricated cement tiles must be placed all through the passage from Panchtarni to cave," the bench said. It said some sort of iron chain or pillar be also put in place to give support to the pilgrims and to prevent them from falling into sideways abyss and ditches.

The court was hearing a case, which it took suo motu cognisance of on media reports on pilgrims' deaths allegedly due to lack of proper facilities and medical care for them.

The apex court had earlier appointed a high-power committee to look into the issue of growing number of casualties of Amarnath pilgrims.

The committee comprises secretaries of various departments including those from the ministry of environment and forest, the home affairs, the health and child welfare, besides the Jammu and Kashmir chief secretary.

The court had asked the committee to visit the shrine and give the report to Jammu and Kashmir governor who is also the chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, responsible for holding the Amarnath pilgrimage.

Around 6,21,145 pilgrims undertook the Amarnath Yatra this year which saw 93 casualties.