April 01: As the state government plans to open Amarnath Yatra, the Chief Secretary of Jammu and Kashmir BVR Subrahmanyam has asked the officers to prepare for an expected footfall of 6 lakh pilgrims for the upcoming holy yatra. The yatra is going to be a 56-day long pilgrimage that will take the visitors 3880 m higher to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath.
This pilgrimage is held every year in south Kashmir as it attracts pilgrims from around the country. This year, the yatra will begin on June 28 and will culminate on August 22.
The Chief Secretary has also directed the divisional commissioners of the Union Territory to closely monitor the preparations along with arranging all necessary things including camps alongside the yatra route for the pilgrims. The route for the yatra is particularly going to be in Jammu, Ramban, Kathua, Samba, Srinagar, Anantnag, Udhampur, Baltal, and Chandanwari.
The holding capacity of the transit camps is supposed to be enhanced, under the jurisdiction of almost 1.22 lakh yatris to this holy pilgrimage. There will also be the cave-bound pilgrims here along with the visitors that return on a daily basis.
The Chief Secretary has reviewed the arrangements to ensure the safe, secure and smooth movement of the pilgrims as this is particularly true for the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, Baltal and Chandanwari yatra.
Throughout the route taken by the pilgrims, every possible basic amenity will be provided as well as adequate provisions for the pilgrims.
