JAMMU: With only a week left for annual Amarnath Yatra various non profit organizations offering free langer and other facilities to pilgrims have started pouring in the state.
 Sources said that  more than 250 trucks carrying ‘ration’ items and other goods along with volunteers have reached at various places, while hundreds of more such freights are excepted as the yatra takes off on June 25.
  Notably, many social, religious organizations and individuals from different parts of the country every year install Pandals  along the Yatra route offering free ‘langars (community kitchens) besides  providing quilts, blankets and accommodation to the devotees ..
  The state Government also provides langar and shelter at Bhagwati Nagar Base Camp Jammu, Nunwan Base Camp, Chandanwari Base Camp, Baltal Base Camp and Sheshnag Camp besides at many camps situated along the National Highwayfrom Lakhanpur to Kashmir. 
  Deputy Excise Commissioner Toll Post Lakhanpur Mushtaq Ahmad, while talking to Greater Kashmir said that his department was takeing every possible step to facilitate smooth entry of the goods and volunteers of the social, religious organizations and individuals who have offered to install langar facilities at various places along the yatra route.
   “We have provided separate lane and separate staff for the smooth flow of volunteers, goods carrier, and devotees. Entire process of collecting is getting completed in just five minutes” said Mushtaq Ahmad. He further said that the number of vehicles of ration and other basic goods are likely to swell in coming days as yatra is yet to start.
  As the official date of commencement of annual Amarnath Yatra is June 25, first batch of Yatra will be flagged off from Jammu on June 23. So far, more than 300,000 pilgrims have registered for the pilgrimage through designated banks and post offices across the country.
  It is pertinent to mention here that Governor N N Vohra-who is also chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), in a high level meeting few days ago, had said the langar service should be ensured at all the identified places till the conclusion of the pilgrimage to avoid any inconvenience to the Yatris. He had also emphasised on providing the food as per the diet chart circulated, which takes into account nutritional requirements of the yatris in view of the high-altitude and difficult climatic conditions.

Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Jun 2012 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Mon, 18 Jun 2012 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Tue, 19 Jun 2012 00:00:00 IST