Amid restrictions, annual Amarnath Yatra begins in Jammu today
Jammu: Amid tight restrictions imposed in the name of security arrangements, annual Amarnath Yatra commenced from Jammu, Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir, early in the morning, today.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the first convoy of pilgrims heading via the Baltal route left from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu at 4:00 am Wednesday. This was followed by another convoy at 4:30 am for pilgrims taking the traditional Pahalgam route to the Amarnath cave.
As per tradition, the Yatra will proceed along 270 kilometres long Srinagar-Jammu highway. Strict restrictions have been imposed by the administration in the name of security arrangements. The highway, including its tunnels, bridges, and railway tracks, is being heavily guarded by the Indian Army, police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF).
Special security measures have been put in place on the stretch of highway that winds through mountainous terrain. In addition to ground patrols, the Indian Army also monitors and secures the Yatra convoys from elevated positions in the surrounding hills along Jammu Srinagar highway.
Pilgrims traveling through the nearly 70-kilometer stretch of highway in Ramban district will be given short halts at Chanderkote in Ramban and Lambar ground in Banihal for refreshments including tea and breakfast.
Meanwhile, police have set up several checkpoints across the Jammu city and carry out daily anti-sabotage checks. “In view of the Amarnath Yatra, the Police have significantly bolstered the security arrangements by establishing joint checkpoints at multiple strategic locations across the district,” a police spokesperson said. The checkpoints will be operational round the clock in high-sensitivity and high-mobility zones, including on highways, city peripheries and routes leading to the Bhagwati Nagar base camp, the spokesperson said.
Personnel from police, Central Industrial Security Force, Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and other agencies have been deployed for intensive frisking, surveillance and verification operations.
