Jammu: Amid unprecedented multi-layered security arrangements, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here on Friday morning. The first batch of pilgrims has left for the twin base camps – Pahalgam and Baltal – for the pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high cave temple of Lord Shiva in the South Kashmir Himalayas. The 62-day pilgrimage will start from Kashmir on July 1 via two routes – the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but faster 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
Over 3,500 pilgrims have reached Jammu for their onward journey to Amarnath. “The yatra will begin from Jammu tomorrow with the first batch of pilgrims being flagged off from the Jammu base camp by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha,” an official said. He said the yatra will formally start from the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam. Will be on Saturday.
Multi-layered security for Amarnath Yatra
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A multi-layered security arrangement has been activated in and around the Bhagwati Nagar base camp and the convoy carrying the pilgrims, which will leave for Jammu and Kashmir, will be fully guarded by CRPF personnel and the army on the area. And the police will be in control.
An official spokesman said Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the Yatri Niwas base camp here on Thursday night and reviewed the arrangements made for the pilgrims.
Sinha, who is also the chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, reviewed the security arrangements, functioning of joint control rooms, langar stalls, registration counters, electricity and water supply, health facilities and cleanliness, apart from reviewing the food and accommodation of the pilgrims .
He also reviewed transport facilities, deployment of health workers, fire fighting vehicles and emergency services. Sinha also welcomed the pilgrims from all over the country at the base camp. The city administration on Thursday started the process of on-the-spot registration of unregistered pilgrims and sadhus arriving here for the pilgrimage.
While an on-the-spot registration center has been set up for unregistered pilgrims in the city’s Shalimar area, a special camp has been set up for registration of sadhus at the Ram Mandir complex in Purani Mandi. Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Nargesh Singh said registration of unregistered pilgrims and sadhus coming here from all parts of the country has started at the counter here.
Deputy Commissioner Avni Lavasa said that 33 housing centers have been set up across Jammu, while ‘Radio Frequency Identification’ (RFID) tags will be issued at the registration centres. Five counters have been set up at Vaishnavi Dham, Mahajan Sabha, Panchayat Ghar for immediate registration of pilgrims and two at Geeta Bhawan and Ram Mandir for registration of sadhus.
“The pilgrims will be provided with an RFID tag at the registration center itself which is mandatory along with the pilgrim’s permit,” the official said. So far, over 3 lakh pilgrims have registered themselves online for the yatra.