The first batch of Amarnath bound pilgrims embarked on the yatra under ‘unprecedented’ security cover from Jammu yatri niwas in the wee hours of Sunday. All the passenger vehicles,which were part of the convoy, were fixed with Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags to track down the movement of vehicles during the yatra period.
Since early morning, the pilgrims, camping in the yatri niwas, were upbeat. Singing praises of lord shiva and chanting religious slogans large number of women and young pilgrims embarked on the pilgrimage.
The yatra was flagged off by Advisor to the Governor KK Sharma, in the presence of senior State Government/ police officers soon after performing traditional prayers here at the base camp. Local politicians, cutting across party lines, also attended the ceremony and prayed for incident free and safe pilgrimage in the coming days.
Chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board Governor Satya Pal Malik is expected to perform ‘pratham pooja’ inside the holy cave shrine on Monday.
Large number of pilgrims have already reached base camps in Pahalgam and Baltal to undertake the yatra early Monday morning.
The first batch of pilgrims also reached Srinagar late Sunday evening under tight security arrangements.
The pilgrims were accorded warm welcome at different locations by the local district police and state administration authorities.
After flagging off the yatra, Advisor KK Sharma said that coordinated efforts have been put in place by the concerned agencies to ensure smooth and safe conduct of the yatra.
‘’Amarnath Yatra is a very significant annual event. I appeal to pilgrims to undertake the yatra without any worries on their mind. “we have made elaborate security arrangements to ensure safety of pilgrims during the yatra period”,he added.
A senior CRPF officer stationed at the yatri base camp said, “we have beefed up security and where ever it is possible we are relying on electronic surveillance including Drone cameras’ to keep a hawk’s eye on the suspected movement of miscreants.
“We have also introduced Radio frequency tags to track down the movement of vehicles during the yatra period”. He said, “we have also stationed a motorbike squad of CRPF jawans equipped with first aid facilities to handle any emergency during the yatra period”.
The State Government is expecting the pilgrim traffic to pick up in the coming days. So far over 2 lakh pilgrims have registered themselves for the yatra this year.
The Shrine Board authorities have also made elaborate arrangements for ‘spot’ registration to facilitate rush of pilgrims.
Inspector General of Police, Jammu range, MK Sinha said, “Quick Reaction teams were stationed across vantage locations along the yatra route to protect the pilgrims on the national highway and outside the base camp”.
Sniffer dogs were also stationed at the base camp to detect presence of any explosive material and to prevent any possible militant strike.
The Amarnath shrine board authorities have throw open both the traditional Pahalgam-Chandanwari route and Baltal route for pilgrims.
Before the first batch of pilgrims was flagged off the entire route of the yatra was sanitised by the road opening parties of the CRPF and Indian army patrolling along the 300 km long Jammu-Srinagar National highway.
The State police has also set up special security check points in the city of temples to prevent any untoward incident during the yatra period.
The security forces would be facing enormous challenge of securing 400 km long yatra route along the Jammu Srinagar National Highway and especially areas of South Kashmir to prevent any terror strike on the yatra.