Amarnath yatra to begin tommorow

Jammu: The annual Amarnath yatra is all set to begin tomorrow when the first batch of pilgrims will leave early morning for the cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas from the basecamp here amid tight security.

"The first batch of Amarnath pilgrims from Jammu will be flagged off from Bagwati Nagar basecamp of Amarnath yatra at around 0400 hours tomorrow", Minister for Industries and Commerce Surjit Singh Salathia told reporters here this evening.

Salathia, who reviewed the arrangements made by various departments for the smooth conduct of the yatra, said the convoy of pilgrims will leave for the shrine under heavy escort.

3.5 lakh pilgirmas have already been registered for the yatra which will conclude on August 2 on Raksha Bhandan.

Geared up to ensure incident-free and peaceful pilgrimage CRPF has activated its security set-up and deployed 57 companies for security of the Yatra.

"As many as 57 security companies have been deployed for the yatra in Jammu and Kashmir," a senior CRPF officer told PTI.

He said of these, 12 companies have been put on job for security of Amarnath yatra in Jammu region, while 45 companies have been deployed in the valley for the yatra.

The security set-up of CRPF for the yatra has been activated including deployment at Bagwati Nagar basecamp in Jammu besides other camps en route to Kashmir valley and also escort of Yatra convoy from Jammu to Baltal and Pahalgam basecamps in Kashmir valley apart from Highway security.