Amarnath yatra 2011 begins

June 28, 2011 - PRLog -- Yatra begins today amid tight security

Annual 46 days long pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Baba Amarnath ji is beginning tomorrow from here with first batch of yatris getting ready to proceed to forward base camps of Nunwan in Pahalgam and Baltal in Sonamarg. The yatra from forward base camps would start on June 29.

Security deployment and all other arrangements have been made at the base camp of Jammu as well as forward base camps in Srinagar for the pilgrims.

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IGP Kashmir SM Sahai told the Excelsior after visiting forward camps of Nunwan and Baltal that security deployment at both the base camps, tracks and cave shrine of Baba Amarnath ji have been made completely.

"All security arrangements are in place. Deployment has been made. Security drill has been conducted’’, Mr Sahai said.

Meanwhile, all other arrangements on twin tracks of Pahalgam and Baltal have been made for the yatris. Snow has been cleared on the tracks, which have been made fit for movement of the pilgrims, official sources said.

First batch of the yatris would leave Yatri Niwas, Canal Road, the base camp at Jammu at 5 am on Tuesday, Deputy Commissioner, Jammu, Sanjeev Verma said.

He said a number of pilgrims including Sadhus have reached Jammu to join first batch of the pilgrims tomorrow morning.

Mr Verma said a large number of yatris have reached the base camp, while others were putting up in private accommodation and would join the batch tomorrow. All security arrangements have been made for the first batch.

A convoy of police and para-military personnel would join convoy of the pilgrims.

Security, para-military and police personnel have been deployed in adequate strength at Jammu-Srinagar national highway for protection of the pilgrims. They would remain deployed at the highway till completion of the yatra.

Security arrangements have also been stepped-up at Pathankote-Jammu national highway, which would be used for the pilgrims of Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and New Delhi among others to reach Jammu by road.

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Jammu Police today also opened a facilitation center for Amarnath ji pilgrims at Kunjwani. The reception-cum-inquiry center was inaugurated by DIG Jammu-Kathua range Farooq Khan, who welcomed the yatris on way to Jammu.

Mr Khan said the pilgrims would be guided round-the-clock during 46 days period of yatra at the police help center on the lodgment centers opened by the administration and other arrangements made for the yatris.

Meanwhile, much enthusiasm was witnessed among the pilgrims, who had reached the base camp at Yatris Niwas to become part of first batch of yatris leaving tomorrow morning for Baltal and Nunwan. They would start their yatra from the forward base camps on June 29.

A group of pilgrims from Ahmedabad, Gujarat was very jubilant. Part of a 12 group of yatris led by Narender Bhai Patel, the yatris were excited to become part of first group of pilgrims. They were visiting the shrine of Bole Baba for the first time.

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Another group of yatris from Amritsar, Punjab was excited. They were visiting the holy cave shrine for third consecutive time.

Several group of yatris were seen holding bhajans of Lord Shiva at the base camp.

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