STATE TIMES NEWS

ANANTNAG: Describing Shri Amarnathji pilgrims as the brand ambassadors of Jammu and Kashmir, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday called for greater synergy between all stakeholder departments, police, security forces and service providers will ensure best arrangements for the hassle-free pilgrimage.
Reviewing the preparations of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra at a high level meeting at Pahalgam, he directed for deputing dedicated officers who will look-after the effective functioning of the facilities developed by their respective departments.
The Lt Governor emphasised on ensuring smooth arrangements on the route of Yatra, adequate stock of oxygen cylinders and deployment of ambulances and helicopters for any medical emergency.
He also took appraisal of track, lodging, electricity, water, communication, health, fire and emergency services.
The Lt Governor discussed the deployment of police and security personnel, doctors and nursing staff, duty officers, relief and rescue teams, and sanitation staff on the Yatra routes.
The meeting was informed that substantial improvements have been made in terms of facilities for the safe and smooth pilgrimage.

The meeting was attended by Dr Mandeep Kumar Bhandari, CEO, Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board; Vidhi Kumar Birdi, IGP Kashmir; Bhupinder Kumar, Secretary, Public Works (R&B) Department; Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Syeed Fakhrudin Hamid, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag and senior officers of SASB, Security Forces, Civil and Police Administration.
Later, the Lt Governor took stock of the facilities in place for the pilgrims at Nunwan base camp at Pahalgam.
The annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva in south Kashmir will begin on June 29 and end on August 19.

First batch of Shri Amarnath Yatra to leave Jammu today

JAMMU: Amid multi-tier security escort, the first batch of Amarnath pilgrims will depart for twin base camps in Kashmir from Jammu on Friday, marking the beginning of this year’s pilgrimage from here.
The comprehensive arrangements, including three-tier security, area dominations, elaborate route deployment and checkpoints have been put in place for a smooth yatra.
The 52-day pilgrimage will commence from the twin tracks — the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal — on June 29. The yatra will conclude on August 19.
“The first batch of the yatra will leave Jammu base camp at Bhagwati Nagar for Kashmir at 0400 hours in the morning of Friday,” a senior officer told PTI.
He said the yatra will be flagged off by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha from Yatri Niwas amid high security arrangements.
“Traffic restrictions will be imposed on various routes from June 28 to August 19, with daily advisories issued to minimise inconvenience,” he said, adding that cut-off timings have been fixed for each sector on the highway, which is monitored through CCTV surveillance.
For this, over 3,000 tokens have been handed over to the devotees travelling in the first batch for twin base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal in the Kashmir valley, the officials said.
Over 2,000 pilgrims have arrived at the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu, from where they will leave in escorted convoys for the base camps in north Kashmir’s Baltal and south Kashmir’s Anantnag, the officials said. There is a huge rush of devotees arriving at the base camp, they added.
According to reports, over 3.50 lakh yatris have registered for this year’s yatra. There are 125 community kitchens (langars) set up along the two routes to the cave shrine and supported by over 6,000 volunteers.

LG visits Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas, inspects arrangements

JAMMU: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, on Thursday visited Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar and inspected the arrangements for Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.
The Lt Governor also met and interacted with the pilgrims. Subsequently, he chaired a meeting with officials and reviewed the measures taken to facilitate the comfortable stay of the pilgrims. The chair was briefed on the extensive arrangements made for the smooth pilgrimage of the devotees.
The Lt Governor directed the stakeholder departments to deploy adequate man-power to cater to the heavy rush of the pilgrims.
He also interacted with the service providers and took appraisal of the facilities including logistics, lodging, food, health, transportation, RFID counters and other amenities.
The holy annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra will commence from June 29.
RR Swain DGP; M.K Sinha, ADGP Headquarters; Anand Jain, ADGP Jammu; Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner Jammu; Sachin Kumar Vaishya, Deputy Commissioner Jammu and other senior officials accompanied the Lt Governor.

On-spot registration of pilgrims begins in Jammu

JAMMU: The administration on Thursday began the process for on-the-spot registration of devotees arriving here for the pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
Amid tight security arrangements, 1600 pilgrims have arrived at the Bhagwati-Nagar base camp here for their onward journey to Kashmir, officials said. Rush to throng basecamp is going on, they said.
Over 800 Sadhus, including women, have arrived at the traditional Ram Mandir and Geeta Bhawan and are upbeat to pay their obeisance at the 3,880-metre high holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, housing the naturally formed ice-Shivling.
The 52-day pilgrimage will commence from the twin tracks –the traditional 48 km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14 km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal — on June 29. The first batch of pilgrims will leave Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar base camp and Ram Mandir for the valley on Friday.
While an on-the-spot registration centre has been set up for unregistered pilgrims in the Shalimar area of the city, a special camp for registration of sadhus has been set up at Purani Mandi-based Ram temple complex, officials said.
“On-the-spot registration has been started today for the unregistered pilgrims coming from different parts of the country”, Sub-divisional Magistrate (SDM) and In Charge of Mahajan Hall registration centre, Seema Parihar told PTI.
She said a quota has been fixed for the registration centres in Jammu and so far her centre has registered 358 unregistered pilgrims for the journey out of a total quota of 600 for the day.
She said all facilities for smooth registration have been put in place.
Amid chants of ‘Bam Bam Bhole and Jai Jai Baba Barfani’, the Sadhus and Sadhvis are eagerly waiting for the yatra to commence.
“The registration of sadhus has begun in Jammu today. All arrangements have been put in place for the best possible facilities for the sadhus”, another officer said.
As many as 170 sadhus and Sadivis have been registered for the yatra, for their onward journey to Kashmir tomorrow. The enthusiasm among pilgrims and Sadhus arriving here for the pilgrimage was palpable.