Jammu: Amid tight security arrangements, the
first batch of pilgrims to cave shrine of Amarnath in south
Kashmir Himalayas would be flagged off from Jammu base camp on
June 30.
The first batch, which would have a night halt at
Pahalgam and Baltal base camps, would leave for the cave
shrine of Lord Shiva on July one when the yatra begins, CEO
Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, Raj Kumar Goel told reporters.
The registration process of pilgrims commenced on June
five through 121 designated branches of the Jammu and Kashmir
Bank as against 103 counters last year, Goel said, adding over
one lakh pilgrims had been registered for the yatra that will
culminate on August 24.
The Board is providing at its cost an accident insurance
cover of Rs one lakh to the registered pilgrims who possess
valid yatra permits, he said.
The SASB has also completed the required formalities to
provide similar insurance cover to all the registered
labourers deployed during the yatra.
Meanwhile, Governor N N Vohra today reviewed arrangements
for the Amarnath yatra and said the state government and the
SASB were working on war footing for clearance of snow from
twin tracks to the 3888-meter high cave shrine.
"The SASB, all concerned agencies and departments of the
state government are working on war footing for clearance of
snow from both the tracks from Baltal and Pahalgam to the holy
cave," Vohra told a high level meeting during a visit to Yatri
Bhawan, the base camp of Amarnath yatra in Jammu.
On the sanitation fee being charged from Langar
organisations, he said the matter would be given due
consideration.
-PTI
