A day ahead of the commencement of the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, Jammu and Kashmir Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo visited the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Tuesday to review the final preparations. He assured that all necessary arrangements, including comprehensive security measures, are in place to ensure a safe, smooth, and comfortable pilgrimage for devotees.
The 38-day yatra to the sacred 3,880-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine will officially begin from Jammu on Wednesday and from Kashmir on Thursday, via two routes — the 48-km traditional Nunwan-Pahalgam track in Anantnag district and the 14-km steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
Accompanied by senior civil and police officials, Dulloo inspected facilities at the high-security Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas, which serves as the main base camp for pilgrims arriving from across the country. He reviewed arrangements related to boarding and lodging, sanitation, medical care, langars (community kitchens), and the RFID-based tracking system.
“All departments have completed their preparations, whether related to security, food, water, accommodation, or sanitation,” Dulloo told reporters after the visit. He added that a detailed review meeting was held with officers from various departments to ensure coordination and operational readiness on the ground.
The Chief Secretary also interacted with arriving pilgrims, including sadhus, to take feedback and assess the overall environment at the base camp. He reiterated the administration’s commitment to providing a hassle-free, secure, and memorable yatra experience.
“Our entire effort is to ensure that the pilgrimage is conducted in an organised and peaceful manner over the next 38 days, so that every pilgrim returns with joy and spiritual fulfilment,” he said.
Over 3,500 pilgrims have already reached Jammu for the yatra. To ensure preparedness, a mock security drill was conducted at the base camp on Monday evening. The Security Wing of the J&K Police has taken over internal security duties at Bhagwati Nagar, while the CRPF is deployed around the premises.
The yatra will be formally flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp on Wednesday morning, under a robust multi-tier security cover.(KINS)
