First Batch Of Amarnath Yatris Leave Jammu To Begin Pilgrimage

The 45-day long Amarnath Yatra will officially commence from Monday and conclude on August 15 coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival.

Image: ANI

New Delhi: The first batch of pilgrims embarked on this year’s annual Hindu pilgrimage to Amarnath shrine, left Jammu for the Kashmir valley. The 45-day long Amarnath Yatra will officially commence from Monday and conclude on August 15 coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival. "The first batch of pilgrims include 1,051 bound for the north Kashmir Baltal base camp and 1,183 to the Pahalgam base camp. The pilgrims comprised 1,839 males, 333 females, 45 sadhus and 17 children," IANS reported quoting police sources.

Udhampur: District administration and locals welcomed the first batch of devotees for #AmarnathYatra, at Tikri. #JammuAndKashmir pic.twitter.com/5xasrLxUY9

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"The pilgrims left in security escorted convoys. No opposite movement of traffic will be allowed on the Jammu-Srinagar highway till 3 p.m. today (Sunday) in order to ensure that the pilgrims cross the Jawahar Tunnel without any delay." Extraordinary security arrangements have been made to ensure a smooth, violence-free Amarnath Yatra this year. During his visit to Kashmir last week, Union Home Minister, Amit Shah reviewed the security arrangements. Situated at 3,888 metres above sea-level, the Amarnath shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva, according to the devotees. Top police and CRPF officers on Saturday reviewed the security arrangements on the twin routes of Baltal and Pahalgam for Amarnath yatra which begins on Monday. Director General of Jammu and Kashmir Police Dilbag Singh visited base camps of Baltal, Manigam and starting point at Dumail in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district to oversee the security arrangements put in place at these important points, a police spokesman said. He said the DGP was accompanied by IGP Kashmir S P Pani and SSP Ganderbal Mohammd Khalil Poswal. Singh reviewed the security and communication arrangements on the yatra route and the helipad. The DGP took stock of access control at these places and held a meeting with the officers in joint police control room at Baltal, he said. (with inputs from agencies)