First batch of pilgrims leave for Amarnath cave in Kashmir

A senior Army officer said that security force will not take any chance as militants will try to disrupt the yatra, which commenced from today from both tracks.

There were already hundreds of pilgrims for the past few days at Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps who were joined by more than 2,200 more yatris who had arrived from Jammu yesterday, officials said. 

They said first batch of pilgrims, including women and sadhus, left Baltal base camp for holy cave through shortest yatra route early this morning. The yatris are scheduled to reach the cave shrine by this afternoon after tracking hilly terrain on foot to pay obeisance and have darshan of the self-made Ice-Shivlingam in the cave.

Majority of the pilgrims will return to base camp through the same route.

Meanwhile, another group of pilgrims left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional route. Though devotees reach the halting station in vehicles, but sadhus and some other yatris prefer to cover the distance on foot.

Official said majority pilgrims will have night halt at Chandanwari to leave for next halting station in the morning tomorrow while some prefer to cover the distance to reach next halting station.

The authorities have made unprecedented security and other arrangements for the yatris, undertaking the annual pilgrimage to the holy cave.

In view of threat perception, the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has already increased the insurance cover of all registered pilgrims undertaking the yatra from Rs one lakh to Rs 3 lakhs. 

However, the insurance cover will not be available for unregistered pilgrims, who otherwise will not be allowed to go for yatra to holy cave, where the self made ice-Shivlingam has been formed in full size because of heavy snowfall this winter.

Entire yatra routes from both axis besides base camps at Nunwan Pahalgam in south Kashmir and Baltal in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal are being provided round the clock security cover, official sources said, adding that there would be three-tier security arrangements to foil any attempt by miscreants and militants to disrupt the yatra.

Besides deployment of Army on the hill terrain on the yatra route, paramilitary forces and state police have been deployed in strength on both track from base camp to holy cave, situated at about 14,000 feet above sea level.

The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) has deployed additional 200 companies for yatra duty. ''We are providing security to pilgrims right from Bagwati Nagar base camp at Jammu to cave shrine," an official of the force told UNI.

The Army has deployed three battalions to provide security cover in south Kashmir, particularly the Srinagar-Jammu national highway.

This will be in addition to Army, para military and police force already deployed for counter-insurgency operations in the valley, particularly in south and central Kashmir. The Army has also decided to deploy two more Batallions in south Kashmir for counter insurgency operations.

The security cover will be three times more than previous years as authorities do not want to take any chance this time when there is already surge in the militant activities and stone pelting incidents during the past few months.

However, official sources confirmed that there is no specific threat to yatra from the militant organisations.

Over two lakh pilgrims from different parts of the country have already registered themselves to undertake the yatra from both tracks. Majority have opted for shortest Baltal route which takes just one day for darshan and paying obeisance at the cave shrine, they said.

The SASB is also providing on spot registeration for pilgrims at different places in Jammu and Kashmir and for the first time, yatris can get registered at Leh in Ladakh region.

Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SASB Umang Narula said that 24 Rescue Teams (RTs) have also been deployed. 

These teams had been drawn from the personnel of J&K Armed Police, SDRF and the NDRF and equipped with all rescue equipment including oxygen cylinders. Eight Mountain Rescue Teams from the J&K Armed Police will be deployed to help women and sick Yatris in negotiating difficult stretches on the Yatra routes.

Mr Narula further informed that a total of 12 Avalanche Rescue Teams viz 11 teams of the State Disaster Response Force and one team of CRPF would be deployed along both the routes. 

Of these, seven teams would be deployed along the Pahalgam route at Chandanwari, Pissu Top, Zojibal-Nagakoti; Sheshnag, Maha Guns Top, Panjtarni, Holy Cave and 5 teams along the Baltal route at Baltal, Domel, Railpatri, Brarimarg and Sangam Top.

He said besides, four Search and Rescue teams of the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) are also being deployed at Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Sheshnag, Panjtarni and Baltal.

He said 35 Dog Squads would be deployed by the Army, J&K Police, BSF and CRPF along the Pahalgam and Baltal routes, of which 27 would be on the Pahalgam axis and eight will be stationed on the Baltal route.       

These dog squads are used for carrying out anti- sabotage checks and other security related duties.

Doctors deputed from Safdarjang Hospital, Delhi, are already treating the local residents and Service Providers. Residential accommodation and messaging facilities are being provided for about 250 medical personnel, including those arriving from different parts of the country, to provide medical assistance for the pilgrims.