Amarnath yatra begins; security tightened as terror looms large
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First time, a direct helicopter service has started from Srinagar to the
holy cave this year. The service was flagged off from Humhama helipad
near Srinagar airport to the shrine on Thursday morning. By road, the
first batches of pilgrims were flagged off from the base camps of the
two routes at Pahalgam and Baltal in the morning. CCTV cameras are
installed all along the routes and the RFID system has been introduced
for additional security.
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JAMMU, June 30: After a gap of two years due to covid pandemic, the annual
Amarnath yatra began on Thursday amid tight security arrangements as a batch
of about 2,750 pilgrims left the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam in Anantnag district
for the cave shrine. The first batch of pilgrims on the Baltal route was also
flagged off to the holy cave at 5 am. For the first time a direct helicopter service
to Amarnath holy cave from Srinagar has also started.
The idol at Amarnath temple in the south Kashmir Himalayas is a naturally forming
ice lingam 3,800 mts above the sea level.
Three lakh pilgrims have already registered through over 450 bank branches
and SASB’S mobile app. Eight lakh yatris are expected to visit the cave during
the season lasting till August 11 (43 days), Rakhsha Bandhan day. Security has
been tightened in view of the concern over heightened terror activities. CCTV
cameras are installed all along the routes. Radio Frequency Identification (RFID)
system has been introduced for the yatris on the way. Seventy health care centres
are set up along Pahalgam-Chandanwari and Baltal routes, besides a 70-bedded
hospital each for the two routes.
(See SASB website for details)
In the past one month, two terrorist attempts planning to target the pilgrimage
were thwarted by the security forces resulting in the killing four terrorists.
(SEE: Two terrorists killed in Kulgam near Amarnath pilgrimage route )
In the first case, two terrorists were killed in Kulgam, on Amarnath route,
near Nawapora in Mir Bazaar on Wednesday. On June 14, the security forces had
gunned down two Pakistani terrorists of the LeT in Srinagar who were suspected
to be planning to attack the Amarnath pilgrims. Three Hizbul Mujahideen (HM)
terrorists were killed near Pahalgam on the Amarnath route on May 6.
First time, direct helicopter service has been made available for AmarnathJi
yatris this year from Srinagar (from near the Srinagar airport) to holy cave
in Anantnag district. The service was flagged off from helipad Humhama to holy
cave on Thursday by Deputy Commissioner (DC) Budgam, Shahbaz Ahmed Mirza. The
holy yatra can be made in a single day. The tickets are available online.
Commissioner Secretary, Revenue, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri flagged off the first batch
of pilgrims from Domel-Baltal to holy cave at 5 am on Thursday. The first batch
had 6,823 pilgrims, consisting of 5,384 men, 1,293 women, 48 children and 98 sadhus.
The yatra was also flagged off from Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam in Anantnag
district. The yatris on this route will be taken from Pahalgam to Chandanwari in vehicles from where the yatra on foot will commence. From Chandanwari, ghoda and other services are available.
ONLINE DARSHAN: ‘Darshan’ of the shrine can be had through live telecast of
morning and evening aarti at Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board's
website link or through Shrine Board’s Android-based Application which may be
downloaded through the link.
HELPLINE No. 14464; Toll Free Numbers:- Jammu: 18001807198; Srinagar: 18001807199
SEE for Route details:
SEE for Transportation details:
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