The annual Amarnath yatra is all set to begin on Sunday, when the first batch of pilgrims will leave early in the morning for the cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas, from the base camp here, with tight security.
“The first batch of Amarnath pilgrims from Jammu will be flagged off from Bagwati Nagar base camp of Amarnath yatra at around 4 a.m. tomorrow [Sunday],” Minister for Industries and Commerce, Surjit Singh Salathia, told reporters here on Saturday. Salathia, who reviewed the arrangements made by various departments for the smooth conduct of the yatra , said the convoy of pilgrims will leave for the shrine under heavy escort.
3.5 lakh pilgrims have already been registered for the yatra , which will conclude on August 2 on Raksha Bhandan .
Geared up to provide incident-free and peaceful pilgrimage, CRPF has activated its security set-up, and deployed 57 companies for the security of the yatra . “As many as 57 security companies have been deployed for the yatra in Jammu and Kashmir,” a senior CRPF officer told PTI.
He said of these, 12 companies have been put on the job for the security of Amarnath yatra in Jammu region, while 45 companies have been deployed in the valley for the yatra .
