
Jammu and Kashmir: Budha Amarnath Yatra to begin on July 28
Deputy Inspector General of Police Tejinder Singh reviewed security in Poonch and emphasised the importance of ensuring the safety of devotees.
"The first batch will depart from the Bhagwati Nagar basecamp in Jammu on July 28, moving towards the Mandi tehsil in Poonch in a regulated convoy amid full security arrangements," a spokesperson said.
Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and Inspector General of Police (IGP) Bhim Sen Tuti reviewed the arrangements.
Mr. Kumar directed officials to establish a help desk and registration counter at Bhagwati Nagar and Jammu Railway Station to facilitate the pilgrims.
The deputy commissioners of Rajouri and Poonch were instructed to ensure adequate accommodation with essential facilities, including power supply, drinking water, langars, parking, waterproof tents, and mobile toilets along the route, the spokesperson said.
Emphasising safety, the IGP stressed strict adherence to convoy timings and urged public awareness for travelling only with the official convoy.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Print
3 days ago
- The Print
Machail Mata Yatra begins in J-K's Kishtwar, over 4,900 pilgrims offer prayers at shrine
As many as 4,944 pilgrims — 3,861 males, 776 females, and 308 children — paid obeisance at the temple till Friday evening, a police officer said. Amid spiritual fervour and devotion, pilgrims trekked serpentine tracks to offer prayers at the holy shrine and sought blessings from the goddess for enduring peace, prosperity, and well-being. Jammu, Jul 25 (PTI) The 43-day-long Machail Mata Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir's Kishtwar district commenced on Friday amid multi-tier security arrangements, with over 4,900 pilgrims paying obeisance at the Himalayan shrine. During the pre-yatra period till July 15, a total of 53,618 pilgrims had already visited the shrine, he said, adding that with today's batch, the number of pilgrims who have paid obeisance has gone up to 58,562. The yatra will conclude on September 5. Leader of Opposition in the Jammu and Kashmir Assembly Sunil Sharma, accompanied by Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar, Inspector General of Police Bhim Sen Tuti, and District Magistrate Pankaj Sharma, visited the shrine on the first day after the gates of the Mata Machail temple were opened today. They warmly welcomed all the devotees undertaking the sacred journey of the Mata Machail Yatra. Speaking to reporters after offering prayers, Sharma underlined the significance of the Machail Mata Yatra, which draws lakhs of devotees from across the country. 'Despite the growing number of pilgrims, many still face significant difficulties due to poor road connectivity and inadequate infrastructure. I have constantly worked towards enhancing the basic facilities in this remote and sacred region to ensure a smoother and more comfortable journey for the pilgrims,' he said. Sharma also made an emotional appeal to people across the Union Territory and the country to visit the holy shrine of Machail Mata and experience the divine energy and spiritual serenity it offers. The pilgrims had to trek for six to seven hours to reach the 9,705-foot-high shrine in the scenic Paddar valley, also famous for its sapphire mines. The holding capacity at Yatri Niwas at the base camp in Gulabgarh and various other places en route to the shrine has been increased to accommodate 5,000 pilgrims per day, the officals said. Roadside amenities, langar arrangements, mobile connectivity, traffic management, power, drinking water, and medical facilities have been taken care of, with special focus on sanitation and cleanliness in the ecologically sensitive region. Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Sharma said the Machail Mata Yatra holds immense spiritual and cultural significance and remains a cherished place of pilgrimage for devotees nationwide. Senior Superintendent of Police Naresh Singh assured pilgrims that adequate security arrangements, round-the-clock help desks, and essential facilities have been established to ensure a safe, smooth, and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage. He also appealed to all yatris to follow the yatra guidelines and cooperate fully with the administration. PTI AB NB NB This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.


The Hindu
5 days ago
- The Hindu
17 tourists rescued after harrowing night in Odisha Forest
Seventeen tourists — including 13 female— will never forget the harrowing 14 hours they spent after losing their way in a dense forest, battling heavy rain, pitch darkness, and the chilly wind atop 3,000-foot altitude. What began as a pilgrimage trek between two revered temples in western Odisha turned into a nightlong ordeal of fear and endurance, before they were finally rescued early on Thursday (July 24, 2025). Around 2 p.m. on Wednesday (July 23, 2025), a group of 17 tourists from Jharsuguda district of Odisha and Raigarh district of Chhattisgarh set out on an 18-kilometre trek through forested, hilly terrain that connects the twin shrines of Nrusinghnath and Harishankar on Gandhamardhan Hill in western Odisha. As daylight faded, they struggled to navigate the narrow and often confusing paths of the Gandhamardhan Hill and eventually lost their way. Fortunately, despite patchy mobile connectivity, they managed to remain in touch with the outside world. Once local authorities were alerted to the situation, police personnel stationed nearby were quickly mobilised, and a full-scale rescue operation was launched. 'It was a long night for the 17 tourists. From Wednesday evening through early Thursday, our teams tracked their movements and worked tirelessly through one of the most challenging rescue operations,' said Bargarh Superintendent of Police Prahlad Sahai Meena, who directly monitored the mission. Upon receiving the distress call, a dedicated team of the District Voluntary Force (DVF) — comprising 30 commandos equipped with food supplies, first-aid kits, and rescue gear — was dispatched to the hill. Navigating the difficult terrain, they reached the stranded group at 4 am on Thursday morning and brought them to safety. The vulnerability of the rescue team—comprising police and forest personnel—was compounded by the presence of Left Wing Extremists in the region. 'As we remained connected over phone, our first advice was to stay on a bald patch of the hill so they could be easily spotted,' recalled Mr. Meena. 'But the rescue team couldn't ascend due to heavy rain and a slippery trail. They had to pause for several hours,' he described. Adding another layer of difficulty, the stranded group had moved about 500 metres away from the designated spot in wee hours of Thursday. One of the girls was visually impaired, making it extremely difficult to bring her down the hill. A stretcher had to be sent for her evacuation. The group's night-long ordeal under relentless rain—accompanied by two children aged seven and eight—must have been harrowing. They also faced the looming threat of wildlife in the forested terrain. Traumatised tourists were not in a mood to speak to media after their rescue.


Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Kanwar Yatra ends; 4.5 crore pilgrims reached Haridwar in 15 days
Haridwar in Uttarakhand resonated with chants of 'Har Har Mahadev' and 'Bam Bam Bhole' as the fortnight-long Kanwar Yatra ended on Wednesday with lakhs of devotees thronging the banks of the Ganga to collect the waters of the holy river and perform 'jalabhishek' at Shiva temples in the town on Sawan Shivratri. According to Mela Control Room sources, more than 4.5 crore devotees reached Haridwar within a fortnight this year to collect Ganga water during the Kanwar Yatra. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category A seemingly endless stream of saffron-clad devotees was seen at the Dakshaprajapati Mahadev temple complex in the Kankhal area which is believed to be the abode of Lord Shiva's in-laws. According to mythological beliefs, keeping a promise made to his father-in-law King Daksha, Lord Shiva resides in Kankhal for the entire month of Shravan. Other Shivalayas of Kankhal, like the Daridra Bhanjan, Tilbhandeshwar, Bilveshwar, Neeleshwar and Gaurishankar temples, also drew large crowds of devotees. Live Events Haridwar District Magistrate Mayur Dixit and Senior Superintendent of Police Pramod Dobal also performed Ganga puja at Har Ki Pauri along with their subordinate officials. They took water from there and performed 'jalabhishek' (offering) at the Daksha temple, expressing gratitude to Lord Shiva for the smooth conclusion of the Kanwar fair attended each year by crores of devotees.