First batch of yatris to leave from Jammu

Jammu, June 27: Ahead of two-month-long Shri Amaranath Yatra, the Jammu and Kashmir Government has made foolproof security arrangements to ensure peaceful darshan of Ice-lingam at the holy shrine in the Himalayas.

A three-tier security arrangement has been put in place on the twin routes of Pehalgam and Baltal leading to the cave in south Kashmir, official sources said.

The deployment of troops of JK police, Border Security Force (BSF), Central Reserve Police (CRPF), Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) and army has been completed, the authorities said, adding that to ensure a trouble-free pilgrimage, elaborate security arrangements have been made.

Talking to media, Division Commissioner Pramod Jain said all the logistic and security fragment has been completed.

The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) has made the best arrangement for pilgrims who will visit the naturally formed ice lingam, he said.

Mr Jain further informed that the first batch of pilgrims would leave for valley at 0445 hrs on June 30 from MAM stadium base camp at Jammu.

The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board has established one base camp at Jammu and two forward base camps at Pehalgam and Baltal and all the arrangement have been completed, he added.

Meanwhile, between controversies of shrinking the ice-made lingam, the devotees, including SASB CEO Dr Arun Kumar who visited the cave said a nearly 12-foot ice lingam has formed in the 200 cubic-meter caves.

Each year in the month of 'Shravan', when the moon is full, lakhs of pilgrims traverse the difficult terrain to pay obeisance at the holy cave which houses a naturally formed ice lingam, the symbol of lord Shiva.

UNI

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