Wednesday, 29 June 2011

Shri Amarnath Yatra commences; first batch of 2096 flagged off

Tahir Mushtaq


JAMMU, June 28: The Yatra to the Holy Cave of Shri Amarnath commenced today as the first batch of 2096 pilgrims left Yatri Niwas at 0500 hrs from Bhagwati Nagar here. The yatra was flagged off by Tourism and Culture Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora. The heads of various departments were also present on the occasion. The upbeat pilgrims were chanting the slogans of “Bam Bam Bhole”. 

According to official report, the pilgrims included 1396 males, 421 females, 110 children and 196 Sadhus left the base camp in cavalcade of 73 vehicles. The vehicles included 32 buses of State Road Transport Corporation, 17 private vehicles and 24 light motor vehicles.
 

The pilgrims will reach the south Kashmir Pahalgam base camp and the north Kashmir Baltal base camp in the evening, an official said in Srinagar. So far, 250,000 pilgrims have registered themselves with the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board for the Himalayan pilgrimage.
 

An on the spot registration too has been opened for pilgrims, arriving in Jammu or in Srinagar without prior registration. Pilgrims are enthusiastic about the pilgrimage for two reasons - pleasant weather and greater sense of security along the route.
 

Vehicles of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police would escort the pilgrim convoys from Jammu to the two base camps.
 

Nearly 30,000 personnel have been deployed for the
 security of pilgrims, all the way to the cave shrine.

No comments:

Post a Comment