First batch of pilgrims reach Kashmir amid heavy security
Suhail Khan
SRINAGAR, June 28: Under strict security measures, the first group of pilgrims for the yearly Amarnath Yatra arrived in the Kashmir valley on Friday.
An official told Kashmir Despatch that the first batch of the annual Amarnath Yatra with 4,603 pilgrims reached the Kashmir valley who were received by senior police and civil administration officials, along with the local populace.
The official said that the 52-day pilgrimage will start on Saturday, June 29, at the twin tracks—the 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal and the 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag—and end on August 19.
Picture : Firdous Parray
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch from the Yatri Niwas base camp at Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu early on Friday morning, to cheers of “Bum Bum Bhole” and “Har Har Mahadev”.
In a cavalcade of 231 light and heavy trucks, they arrived in Srinagar. Reporters were informed by Kulgam Deputy Commissioner (DC) Athar Aamir Khan that the administration, representatives of civil society, trade fraternity, fruit producers, and market associations had greeted the pilgrims who will travel via both the axis, Baltal and Pahalgam, upon their arrival.
“We welcome all of them. There are proper arrangements in place for them,” Khan told the media.
An eyewitness told Kashmir Despatch that the yatra convoys received a rousing welcome from the administration and the people on their way to Kashmir, and the pilgrims were welcomed with garlands in Kulgam, Anantnag, Srinagar, and Bandipora districts.
As per ground reports, the pilgrims taking the Pahalgam axis were welcomed at Anantnag by Deputy Commissioner Syeed Fakhrudin Hamid and other officials, while the yatris on their way to the cave shrine via the Baltal axis were welcomed at Pantha Chowk in Srinagar by Deputy Commissioner Bilal Mohi-ud-din Bhat and others, including locals.
The convoy was also later welcomed in Bandipora, where it was given a rousing reception, reports added.
Meanwhile, a senior official told Kashmir Despatch that pilgrim convoys left separately for the base camps in Baltal and Pahalgam from where they will leave for the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine early on Saturday.
Comprehensive arrangements, including three-tier security, area domination, elaborate route deployment and checkpoints, have been made to ensure a smooth yatra, a senior official said.
“Traffic restrictions will be imposed on various routes from June 28 to August 19, with daily advisories issued to minimise inconvenience,” the official said.
According to reports, more than 3.50 lakh people have registered for this year’s yatra. As many as 125 community kitchens (langars) have been set up along the two routes to the cave shrine and are supported by over 6,000 volunteers.
Suhail Khan is a filmmaker, content writer, and freelance journalist.
