KISHTWAR: Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Pankaj Kumar Sharma today convened a meeting with officers from various line departments and representatives from religious organisations to finalize preparations for Urs Shah Asrar-ud-Din Sahib (RA), scheduled on November 10, 2025.
The DC issued necessary directions to the concerned departments to complete assigned arrangements well in time. The arrangements discussed included accommodation for visiting devotees, medical care services, transportation facilities, sanitation and drinking water. Stress was laid on making available firewood, adequate stocks of rations and LPG.
The Police Department was asked to put in place comprehensive security arrangements with adequate deployment at key locations, besides chalking out an effective traffic management plan.
The Jal Shakti Department was asked to provide adequate drinking water for devotees at the Shrines and at Chowgan Ground, with additional water tankers as per requirement.
The JPDCL and Municipal Council Kishtwar were directed to repair and replace street lights in the town, around the shrines and at Chowgan Ground for safe movement of devotees.
The DC also emphasized maintaining cleanliness and properly marking the roads leading to the Shrines.
The ARTO, DTI and Police Department were directed to make available transport facilities, including additional buses for pilgrims and regulation of traffic and parking spaces.
The JPDCL authorities were directed to ensure an uninterrupted power supply at the shrines and accommodation sites for devotees and to arrange generators as a backup.
The Tehsildar and Information Department were directed to establish a joint Information Centre at Chowgan Ground for the convenience of devotees, with assistance from the Police Authorities.
The departments of Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs (FCS&CA), was asked to ensure efficient arrangements.
The Fire and Emergency Services Incharge was asked to inspect and test the existing fire hydrants installed in the different municipal wards of the town, to ensure preparedness for effectively combating any fire-related incident.
Members of the Sajada-e-Nasheen (Darbar Shah Asrar-ud-Din Sahib and Darbar Shah Farid-ud-Din Sahib) and the representative of EO Auqaf Kishtwar apprised the DC of various issues and demands, to which the DC gave a patient hearing and assured every possible support from the District Administration.
The meeting was attended by ADC, Pawan Kotwal; CEO KDA, Kaiser Bhawani; ACR, Idrees Lone; EO Municipal Council, Mirza Mumtaz Iqbal and other government functionaries from stakeholder departments.