Jammu, June 11: A high level official meeting today reviewed multiple arrangements, including the security for the annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir beginning July 12, a senior official said. The divisional level meeting chaired by divisional commissioner, Jammu, Lokesh Jha decided that the convoy of pilgrims would leave Jammu around 0530 hours each day for Phalgam and Baltal base camps.
M A M Stadium would serve as the base camp of pilgrims in Jammu, the winter capital of the state, the official said. A posse of security escorts would accompany the buses from Jammu to Phalgam and Baltal.
Various facilities including accommodation, medicare, security, sanitation, drinking water, power supply, regulation of traffic and setting up of free langurs en-route and in Jammu were also discussed, the official said. He said 27 places were demarcated for housing Amarnath pilgrims in Jammu and adjoining areas with all facilities, including full security cover.
It was also decided that registration counters would be opened at the railway station and M A M Stadium for pilgrims. The divisional commissioner stressed on the need for setting up area and sector wise control rooms to meet pilgrims' requirements. He asked heads of various departments to set up special teams for conducting frequent visits to the pilgrims camps to take stock of the arrangements. Bureau Report