With the annual Amarnath Yatra 2019 commencing Monday, hundreds of vehicles carrying pilgrims have reached at the base camps Sonamarg and Baltal in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
Using various modes of transport, the pilgrims fromdifferent parts of the country reached the base camps Sunday evening amidheightened security arrangements.
From the base camps, the pilgrims shall step on towards thecave shrine located at the height of 13,500 feet from the sea level.
A senior official said the first batch of pilgrims willstart trekking up the 14-km-long treacherous mountain trail from Baltal earlyMonday to reach the cave shrine for Darshan.
Special prayers are being organised by the Shri AmarnathShrine Board (SASB) to mark the beginning of this year’s Yatra at the holy caveMonday morning.
Sources said that Jammu and Kashmir Governor Satya Pal Malikwill also visit the cave shrine Monday morning to pay obeisance.
Officials said that adequate arrangements relating tohealth, sanitation and water supply services have been made to ensure smoothyatra.
Meanwhile, tight security arrangements have been put inplace for incident-free yatra.
Official sources said that vehicles of the Central ReservePolice Force (CRPF) and the Jammu and Kashmir Police would escort the pilgrims’convoys from Jammu to the two base camps.
Senior Superintendent of Police, Ganderbal, Khalil AhmedPoswal told Greater Kashmir that the first batch of pilgrims has reached thebase camp Baltal in Ganderbal district safely. “Adequate arrangements have beenput in place along the Baltal route to ensure peaceful yatra,” he said.
“All security wings have been geared up to provide adequatesecurity and other facilities to the yatris,” he added.