Srinagar, July 1: The annual Amarnath Yatra commenced from today with the Governor, N N Vohra, paying obeisance at the Sanctum Sanctorum and performing the inaugural Pooja, an official spokesman said.
The Governor prayed for peace, harmony, progress and prosperity in the state. The First Lady, Usha Vohra, and the Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), Raj Kumar Goyal, who accompanied the Governor during the visit, paid obeisance at the Cave Shrine.
The Governor also visited Nunwan and Baltal Base Camps and reviewed the arrangements made to facilitate the Yatris.
On this occasion, the Minister for Forests, Mian Altaf Ahmad, flagged-off the helicopter services from Baltal to Panjtarni, while the Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora, launched the helicopter services from Pahalgam to Panjtarni.
The Governor took stock of the arrangements made for the Yatris, particularly in regard to sanitation, water and power supply and other logistics put in place for the visiting Yatris.
During his visits to the Baltal and Nunwan base camps, the Governor particularly reviewed the arrangements relating to sanitation and reiterated directions to the camp officers to ensure cleanliness in and around the base camps and preservation of the environment; effective regulation of the entry of Yatris into the camp and their onward movement to the cave shrine.
The Governor, who is also the Chairman of SASB, interacted with the pilgrims at the Nunwan and Baltal Base camps.
This year’s yatra, which commenced from Baltal and Pahalgam this morning, would conclude on Raksha Bandhan on 24th August, 2010.
The SASB has taken several new initiatives to bring progressive improvement in the Yatra management all the registered pilgrims have been provided free accident insurance cover of rupees one lakh. The insurance policy has the provision of free of charge accident insurance cover of Rs one lakh for every Yatri who possesses a Yatra Permit. The entire expenditure for drawing this insurance cover is being borne by the Board, the spokesman added.

Lastupdate on : Thu, 1 Jul 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Thu, 1 Jul 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Fri, 2 Jul 2010 00:00:00 IST