Amarnath Yatra: Token distribution for registration begins in Jammu, dry run conducted

Jammu: Ahead of the Amarnath Yatra, the token distribution centre for offline registration of the pilgrims was operationalised here on Monday, even as the authorities successfully conducted a dry run of the arrangements along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, officials said.

The 38-day pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine of Amarnath will commence from the twin tracks — the traditional 48-km-long Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the 14-km shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district — on July 3.

The first batch of pilgrims will leave for Kashmir from the Jammu-based Bhagwati Nagar base camp on July 2.

Authorities on Monday opened the token distribution centre at Saraswati Dham in Jammu, drawing huge enthusiasm from devotees across the country and abroad.

Braving rain, pilgrims aspiring to undertake the Yatra thronged the centre to get tokens for their on-the-spot registration.

"The distribution of tokens has started today. For this purpose, a token centre has been set up at Saraswati Dham, from where tokens are being distributed to pilgrims undertaking the Yatra on both routes – Pahalgam and Baltal," Manu Hansa, sub-divisional magistrate, Jammu South, told reporters here.

He said after getting the tokens, the pilgrims can get themselves registered for the Yatra on Tuesday and undertake the pilgrimage beginning July 2 from the Jammu base camp in Bhagwati Nagar.

"The registration will begin tomorrow at three centres — Vaishnavi Dham, Panchayat Bhawan and Mahajan Sabha. This is the only centre from where devotees can get the token. The centre opens at 7 am," he said.

The SDM said the per-day quota of tokens and registration is 2,000 each, and the counters will remain open till the daily quota is exhausted.

Ahead of the Yatra, the administration conducted a successful dry run of the convoy on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway to ensure a safe and trouble-free yatra, officials said.

Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and Inspector General of Police Bhim Sen Tuti accompanied the convoy, which left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu around 4.30 am.

Kumar said that arrangements for food, shelter, sanitation and other essentials have been made after reviewing security and other arrangements along the highway in Udhampur and Ramban districts.

Deputy Commissioner Jammu Sachin Kumar told reporters that people should come in large numbers as the administration has made elaborate arrangements for a comfortable and secure pilgrimage.

Police officials said foolproof security arrangements are in place along the highway, with a joint control room monitoring the movement of pilgrim vehicles through CCTV cameras.

Officials working in emergency departments are also part of this joint control room to ensure a swift response to any situation, they said.