Amarnath yatra to be flagged off tomorrow

Jammu, Jun 16 (UNI) The first batch of the annual two-month-long Amarnath pilgrimage will be flagged off from the Yatri Bhawan amid tight security tomorrow, official sources said today.

''Final arrangements have been made for the flagging-off ceremony and the first batch will leave tomorrow from here for Baltal in Srinagar, the base camp for Amarnath yatra and from Baltal, it will proceed for the cave shrine on June 18,'' the sources told UNI.

However, the venue from where the batch would leave has been thrown under tight security cover and additional troops have been deployed around the area, the sources added.

'' Yatris have been accommodated at the newly built Yatri Bhawan on the banks of river Tawi, which was inaugurated by Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad today,'' the sources said, asserting ''all basic facilities are being provided to the pilgrims coming for yatra from across the country.'' UNI VHB LPB KN2030