The annual Amarnath Yatra commenced from both the traditional Pahalgam and shortest Baltal routes in Kashmir on Thursday amid unprecedented security measures.
The pilgrims left for the cave shrine from the twin tracks ---- the traditional 48-kms Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and 14-kms Baltal route in Ganderbal district in the morning today.
While some pilgrims undertook the trek to the cave shrine on foot, others traveled on ponies.
The pilgrims from Baltal were flagged off by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri.
Secretary, Science and Technology Department, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, who is Nodal Officer for Yatra-2025 for Baltal axis; Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Jatin Kishore; SSP Ganderbal, Khalil Poswal; and other senior officers from the District Administration and Police were also present on the occasion.
From Nunwan Pahalgam, the Yatra was flagged by Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Syeed Fakhruddin Hamid and Senior Superintendent of Police Anantnag Amritpal Singh.
The pilgrims expressed joy and appreciation for the robust arrangements made by the Jammu and Kashmir UT Administration, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), and the Police.
They lauded the seamless coordination and facilities put in place to ensure a smooth and secure Yatra experience.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had yesterday morning flagged off the first batch of pilgrims from the Bhagwati Nagar Base Camp in Jammu.
The pilgrims had reached the twin base camps of Nunwan and Baltal from Jammu last evening amid a warm welcome by locals and administration
To ensure the safety and well-being of the pilgrims, the administration has made comprehensive arrangements, including round-the-clock security, well-equipped medical camps, sanitation facilities, and other essential services along the Yatra route.
This year’s Amarnath pilgrimage comes more than two months after a terror attack at the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, in which 25 tourists and a local ponywala were killed.
In view of the terror attack, unprecedented security measures have been put in place for the yatra.
The 38-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 9 on the occasion of Raksha Bhandan.