Ist batch of yatris to leave for cave shrine today

Lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha will flag off the first batch of the annual pilgrimage to Amarnath cave shrine, amid unprecedented security arrangements, from Bhagwati Nagar base camp on Wednesday morning.

- HT Correspondent

JAMMU:

The first batch escorted by CRPF's commandos will leave the base camp around 4.30 am.

Unprecedented security arrangements are in place this year for the pilgrimage after the April 22 Pahalgam attack.

Ahead of the commencement of Amarnath Yatra from July 3, chief secretary Atal Dulloo on Tuesday undertook a comprehensive visit to Yatri Niwas base camp at Bhagwati Nagar to take stock of the final arrangements being made by various departments for smooth and secure conduct of the pilgrimage.

Accompanied by the senior civil and police officers, Dulloo inspected all key facilities at the Yatri Niwas, one of the pivotal base camps in Jammu for the devotees.

During his walkthrough of the facility, the chief secretary took a detailed assessment of the arrangements ranging from accommodation, sanitation and power supply to security and registration counters.

He asked for increasing the number of registration counters to ease the process for the incoming pilgrims and minimise waiting times.