New Delhi: The annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, which remained suspended for past two years due to the onset of coronavirus pandemic, will officially begin on June 30, news agency Asian News International (ANI) reported. The 43-day yatra will end on August 11.
Earlier last week, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha reviewed the security arrangements and preparations for the upcoming yatra.
The officers at a unified command meeting in Srinagar apprised the Lieutenant Governor of the overall security situation. They also briefed him on various arrangements related to Amarnath Yatra.
“All the work is to be completed within the set timeline and officials to ensure optimum use of technology to make the yatra safer and more convenient for the pilgrims,” the official statement by the Lieutenant Governor said, ANI reported.
“All senior officials to periodically inspect the security and every aspect of world-class arrangements, transport, lodging, sanitation, electricity, water, communication, health, convenience shops, food courts, vending zones etc. for Amarnath Yatris,” the statement added.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration had earlier said the pilgrims intending to undertake the Amarnath Yatra will have to furnish their Aadhaar card or submit to Aadhaar authentication voluntarily.
“In pursuance to Rule 5 of the Aadhaar Authentication for Good Governance (Social welfare, innovation, Knowledge) Rules 2020, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir with the prior approval of the Central government hereby notifies that pilgrims desirous of undertaking pilgrimage to the Shri Amarnathji shrine shall furnish proof of possession of Aadhaar or undergo Aadhar authentication on voluntary basis from the date of publication of this notification in the official gazette,” a notification issued by the general administration department reads, PTI reported.
Around three lakh pilgrims are likely to take part in this year’s yatra, which will be the first since the former state was split into two Union Territories -- Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh -- earlier in 2019.