4 days ago
Amarnath Yatra begins, first batch sets off from base camps amid tight security
The annual Amarnath Yatra began on Thursday with the first batches of pilgrims setting off from the twin base camps in Baltal and Nunwan towards the 3880-metre-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas, which houses a naturally formed ice-lingam, officials yatra started early in the morning from the twin tracks - the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route and the 14-km Baltal batches of pilgrims, including men, women and sadhus, left from the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam, in south Kashmir's Anantnag, and Baltal base camp in Sonamarg area of central Kashmir's Ganderbal at the first light of the day, the officials said.
The chants of 'bum bum bole' filled the air as the batches were flagged off by senior officials from the respective base camps, they Wednesday, the first batch of 5,892 yatris was flagged off from the yatra base camp in Jammu's Bhagwati Nagar by Lieutenant Governor Manoj pilgrims reached the Kashmir Valley in the afternoon and received a rousing welcome from the administration and will pay obeisance at the cave shrine, which houses the naturally occurring ice-lingam security arrangements have been put in place for the smooth conduct of the of security personnel from the police, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and other paramilitary forces have been deployed to ensure security. Aerial surveillance will also be carried 38-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 9.- Ends
