Amarnath Yatra: L-G Manoj Sinha flags off first batch of pilgrims from Jammu

Jammu: Amid chants of "Bum Bum Bhole" and "Har Har Mahadev", Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of 4,603 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims from the Yatri Niwas base camp in Bhagwati Nagar here on June 28.

The pilgrims left for the twin base camps in Kashmir -- north Kashmir's Baltal and south Kashmir's Anantnag -- from Jammu amid tight security.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha wished the pilgrims a safe journey.

"May the blessings of Baba Amarnath ji bring peace, happiness and prosperity to everyone's life," he said.

The 52-day pilgrimage will begin from the twin tracks -- the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal -- on Saturday and conclude on August 19.

The pilgrims left in a cavalcade of 231 vehicles. They were escorted by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel.

From the twin basecamps in Kashmir, they will undertake an arduous journey to the 3,880-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine of Lord Shiva in the south Kashmir Himalayas, a senior official told PTI.

Tens of thousands of pilgrims undertake the pilgrimage every year to one of the most revered Hindu shrines. Comprehensive arrangements, including three-tier security, area dominations, elaborate route deployment and checkpoints, have been made to ensure a smooth yatra.

"Traffic restrictions will be imposed on various routes from June 28 to August 19, with daily advisories issued to minimise inconvenience," the official said.

According to reports, more than 3.50 lakh people have registered for this year's yatra. As many as 125 community kitchens (langars) have been set up along the two routes to the cave shrine and are supported by over 6,000 volunteers.