Amidst tense situation due to the curfew imposed in the Valley, the annual Amarnath Yatra on Wednesday began under tight security cover with the first batch of 1,272 pilgrims leaving Jammu base camp for the cave shrine, located at 3,338 metre altitude, in south Kashmir Himalayas.
Amidst tense situation due to the curfew imposed in the Valley, the annual Amarnath Yatra on Wednesday began under tight security cover with the first batch of 1,272 pilgrims leaving Jammu base camp for the cave shrine, located at 3,338 metre altitude, in south Kashmir Himalayas.
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A cavalcade of 53 vehicles carrying the devotees under tight security was flagged off by Tourism and Culture Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora from Amarnath base camp at Bagwatinagar Yatri Niwas around 0500 hours. Security is being provided by CRPF, ITBT and Jammu and Kashmir police.
Despite the tense situation and curfew in the Kashmir valley, authorities allowed the convoy to leave for the cave shrine in Anantnag district of south Kashmir. The batch, comprising of 566 male, 230 females, 32 children and 444 sadhus, left for Pahalgam and Baltal base camps in Kashmir valley.
"Adequate security arrangements have been made all along from Jammu to the cave shrine of Amarnath in Kashmir for safety and security of the pilgrims. Yatra has begun today and all is going on well," Jora told reporters here.
The yatra has crossed Udhampur as the Highway has been sanitised, and army and paramilitary forces were deployed along the highway for smooth passage. "There is no threat to yatra as we have not received any specific input with regard to targeting Amarnath yatra," DIG (Jammu-Kathua range) Farooq Khan said.
All security agencies were well coordinated and a four-tier security set up has been established along the Indo-Pak border to prevent any terrorist strike on the yatra during its passage on the highway close to the border, he said.
Road Opening Parties, Quick Reaction Teams and Mobile Rescue Teams have been positioned at several places to deal with exigency situation, he said. The yatra, which will leave for the cave shrine of Lord Shiva from its base camps - Baltal and Pahalgam tomorrow, will conclude on August 25.
Over 2.50 lakh pilgrims have been registered for the pilgrimage at 121 designated branches of Jammu and Kashmir Bank across the country. Registration of pilgrims for annual Amarnath yatra which commenced from June 5 will continue till August 20.
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