JAMMU, June 27: The first batch of pilgrims for the 52-day Shri Amarnath Yatra will depart from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas base camp amidst tight security arrangements. The pilgrims will be flagged off from the Yatri Niwas early in the morning.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has made comprehensive preparations to ensure a smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage. “All arrangements are in place, and the administration is ready to welcome the pilgrims,” an official stated.
Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar, along with Additional Director General of Police, Jammu Zone, Anand Jain, inspected the final arrangements and preparations made for the Shri Amarnath Yatra. The officers issued directives to ensure seamless provision of facilities and services to the pilgrims arriving at the Yatri Niwas. They also emphasized the need for constant monitoring of the 24×7 control room and ensuring the presence of essential service representatives. Transport officials were instructed to publicize the rates of private taxis and three-wheelers for the convenience of yatris.
On June 22, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), chaired a high-level security review meeting to assess the arrangements made by various agencies and the civil administration for the Amarnath Yatra. Sinha stressed the importance of an incident-free pilgrimage and directed officials to maintain vigilance against anti-national elements, work in “mission mode,” and ensure coordinated and swift responses to any issues.
The 52-day pilgrimage will commence on June 29 via the traditional 48-kilometer Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14-kilometer shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal. “The first batch of pilgrims will be flagged off from Bhagwati Nagar on June 28, and the yatra will start in Kashmir the next day,” an official confirmed.
Lieutenant Governor Sinha also performed the ‘Pratham Puja’ to mark the ceremonial commencement of the annual Shri Amarnath Yatra via video conferencing.
A senior police official noted that special arrangements have been made for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage. A multi-layer security grid is in place to ensure a peaceful yatra, with adequate troop deployment along the national highway, cave routes, and base camps, supplemented by advanced technology for surveillance.
In Jammu, a three-tier security system has been implemented around the Amarnath base camp under the supervision of the Jammu and Kashmir Police’s security wing. Search and sanitization operations have been conducted to ensure a safe start to the yatra. “Adequate security arrangements have been made, with three-tier security measures in place at the Bhagwati Nagar base camp,” an official stated. Lodgment and registration centers in Jammu City are also under strict security.
The Border Roads Organization (BRO) has upgraded the road stretch leading to the cave shrine to facilitate hassle-free movement of pilgrims. Union Home Minister Amit Shah reviewed the security situation in Jammu and Kashmir on June 16, where final security arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra were also discussed.
Despite recent terror strikes in the Jammu region, security measures have been intensified to ensure the safety of pilgrims. “Both routes are fully prepared, and pilgrims will depart for Pahalgam and Baltal from Srinagar on June 29,” an official said. Langar (community kitchen) organizations are actively preparing to support the yatra, with trucks carrying essential supplies already arriving and 125 langar organizations participating this year.
Civil Defense volunteers are also engaged to assist pilgrims arriving in Jammu. The Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police announced traffic restrictions on various routes from June 28 to August 19, issuing special advisories to minimize inconvenience and ensure a smooth pilgrimage. The Jammu Tourism Department has arranged ‘Jammu Darshan’ and sightseeing tours to enhance the pilgrims’ visit experience.
