The annual Amarnath Yatra will commence from July 1, on both the traditional Pahalgam route and the shorter Baltal route, official sources said Thursday.
A high level meeting of divisional officers was held to review the arrangements to ease the journey in the south Kashmir Himalayas, an official spokesman said here.
Deputy Commissioners of Ganderbal and Anantnag districts have been designated as Yatra officers and were asked to establish joint control rooms at Sonmarg and Pahalgam. The meteorological department has been asked to cooperate with both the control rooms so yatris could be informed of weather conditions before they proceed.
To provide proper medical facilities, 23 aid camps would function 24 hours and all the camps would be equipped with doctors, para-medics, ambulances, oxygen cylinders and life saving drugs.
For adequate firewood supply, the forest department would stock 7000 quintiles of firewood at the halting stations against 5800 quintiles dumped last year, spokesperson said.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N.N. Vohra discussed various security related arrangements with top officers of the Army, police, paramilitary forces and civil administration for the annual Amarnath Yatra.
The governor, who is also chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), stressed the need for putting in place all the required security arrangements in time, and called for securing greater synergy among various State Government departments, security forces, SASB and other agencies concerned, an official spokesman said after the meeting.
To make yatra hassle-free for pilgrims on both the routes, SASB will arrange for advance registration of yatris through Jammu and Kashmir bank branches.
