Amarnath Yatra: J&K LG to flag off first batch of pilgrims

Amid tight security arrangements Jammu and Kashmir lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha will flag off the first batch of Amarnath pilgrims for Baltal and Chandanwari from Yatri Niwas base camp on Friday.

“LG Sinha will flag off the first batch of pilgrims around 4 am on Friday from Bhagwati Nagar base camp,” said Jammu divisional commissioner Ramesh Kumar Jangid.

He said that all security arrangements were in place and a proper mock drill was conducted by security forces, paramilitary forces, police and other sister agencies.

On Thursday, LG Sinha visited the Bhagwati Nagar base camp to review arrangements. The 62-day long pilgrimage to the cave shrine at a height of about 13,000 feet in South Kashmir Himalayas will begin on July 1. The yatra will continue till August 31.

Northern Army chief lieutenant, General Upendra Dwivedi has also reviewed the security arrangements for the annual yatra.

“A multi-layered security grid has been put in place for safety and security of the pilgrims right from Lakhanpur to Jammu and to Srinagar and till the holy cave shrine via Baltal and Chandanwari,” said a senior home department official privy to the developments.

The arrangements include night domination through night-vision devices, snipers, drone systems, bomb disposal squads, dog squads, counter IED equipment and vehicle repair and recovery teams.

Keeping in view the cloudburst during the Amarnath Yatra last year, civil rescue teams and avalanche rescue teams have also been deployed on the route systematically in order to mitigate any disasters. Earth movers have been placed at the holy cave and at multiple locations enroute for emergencies. At least 15 pilgrims were killed in the cloudburst on July 8 last year.

Jammu district police chief, senior superintendent of police Chandan Kohli said that security measures have been put in place for the base camps and lodging centres in the Jammu. The yatra takes the traditional 45-km Nunwan route in South Kashmir’s Pahalgam and the comparatively shorter 16-km Baltal route in Ganderbal.

Last year, 3.65 lakh pilgrims visited the holy shrine during the 43-day period, the highest number of devotees since 2016.

The annual pilgrimage could not be held in 2020 and 2021 due to the Covid pandemic and in 2019, it was curtailed mid-way ahead of the revocation of Article 370 on August 5. By then, a total of 3,42,883 pilgrims had visited the cave shrine.

In 2018, a total of 2,85,006 pilgrims had undertaken the pilgrimage.

This year, the administration anticipates a footfall of over six lakh during the 62-day pilgrimage.

“We are eagerly waiting for the pilgrimage to start tomorrow. We want to be there at the holy cave to pay obeisance to Lord Shiva,” said Vinod Kumar of Delhi, a pilgrim undertaking the yatra.

Another pilgrim, Saksham Gupta, was said that he looks forward to the Yatra.

When asked about terror threats, Gupta said, “There is nothing new in terror threats. Despite their threats, devotees come in large numbers.”

The administration has decided to send 10,000 pilgrims each from Baltal and Chandanwari routes every day, subject to weather conditions.

Like every year, helicopter service will also be available for the desirous pilgrims by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

For the Baltal route, one-way fare is ₹2,800 per person, with to-and-fro fare set at ₹5,600.

For the Pahalgam route, the one way per person fare is ₹4,200 and round trip will cost ₹8,400.

CRPF reviews security arrangements

Inspector general of police, CRPF Srinagar, on Thursday reviewed security arrangements ahead of Amarnath Yatra at the camps and convoy route.

IG Ajay Kumar Yadav interacted with the officers deployed along the route and at base camps.

First batch arrives at base camp

A large number of pilgrims reached the Yatri Niwas Base Camp in Jammu on Thursday, ahead of the commencement of the annual Amarnath Yatra on July 1. The first batch of pilgrims for the Yatra was seen in huge lines outside the base camp, and in high spirits. Tight security arrangements can be seen at the base camp.

On-the-spot registration of pilgrims starts in Jammu

The city administration on Thursday began the process for on-the-spot registration of devotees arriving for the pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.

Over 1,500 pilgrims, including sadhus, have arrived in Jammu city for the Yatra. While an on-the-spot registration centre has been set up for unregistered pilgrims in Shalimar area of the city, a special camp for registration of sadhus has been set up at Purani Mandi-based Ram temple complex, officials said.

The registration of un-registered pilgrims arriving here from all parts of the country have begun on-the-spot at the counter here, sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) Nargesh Singh told PTI. He said all facilities for smooth registration have been put in place. “The registration of sadhus has begun in Jammu from today. All arrangements have been put in place for best possible facilities to sadhus”, Tehsildar Jai Singh said.

(with agency inputs)