The first batch of pilgrims for the annual Amarnath Yatra was received by the district administration at Kali Mata Temple, Udhampur district on Friday morning. According to Udhampur Deputy Commissioner of Police Sachin Kumar Vaishya, the footfall of the Yatra pilgrimage is expected to be higher than last year. "We have made proper arrangements for utilities and security, as well as for accommodation,” he said.
Over, 3,500 people have arrived in Jammu for their journey to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Lord Shiva in the south Kashmir Himalayas.
Meanwhile, Deputy Superintendent of Police J&K Police and three others were injured after an Amarnath Security Convoy Vehicle met with an accident near Bali Nallah on Jammu Srinagar National Highway, Udhampur. Injured people have been shifted to District Hospital Udhampur for treatment, according to Senior Superintendent of Police Udhampur Vinod Kumar.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha would flag off the first batch of pilgrims from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp on Friday from where they will leave for the twin base camps in Kashmir.
The Yatra will formally commence from the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam on Saturday.
A multi-tier security setup has been activated in and around the Bhagwati Nagar base camp and a convoy carrying pilgrims, which will leave Jammu for Kashmir, will be fully guarded by CRPF troops with area domination being done by Army and police.
Sinha on Thursday night visited the yatri niwas base camp here and reviewed arrangements put in place for the pilgrims, an official spokesperson said. Sinha, who is also the chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, took stock of food and lodging of the pilgrims besides reviewing security arrangements, functioning of joint control rooms, langer stalls, registration counters, power and water supply, health facilities and sanitation.
He also reviewed the facilities of transportation, deployment of health staff, fire tenders and emergency services.
On-spot-registration booths have also been set up in the Shalimar area of the city, while a special camp for the registration of sadhus has been set up at the Purani Mandi-based Ram temple complex.
