Tauseef Ahmad
Bandipora, Jul 2: The first batch of pilgrims undertaking the annual Amarnath Yatra was accorded a warm welcome at the Sumbal transit camp in north Kashmir’s Bandipora district on Thursday by senior civil and police officials amid tight security arrangements.
Deputy Commissioner Bandipora, Indu Kanwal Chib, and Deputy Inspector General of Police, North Kashmir Range, SSP Bandipora received the pilgrims with flowers at the transit camp.
The convoy, which left Jammu earlier in the day, was escorted under a multi-layered security grid. Personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Central Reserve Police Force and the Sashastra Seema Bal were deployed along the route and at the transit camp to ensure the safe movement of pilgrims.
Officials said arrangements for accommodation, refreshments, medical assistance and sanitation had been made at the Sumbal transit camp before the pilgrims proceed towards the Baltal base camp.
The officials interacted with the pilgrims and reviewed the facilities put in place, reiterating the administration’s commitment to ensuring a safe, smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage.
The annual pilgrimage began on Thursday with the first batch of 4,822 pilgrims leaving Jammu for the Baltal and Pahalgam routes under heightened security.
