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United News of India
a day ago
- United News of India
Amarnath Yatra begins amid tight security
Srinagar, July 3 (UNI) Amid unprecedented security, the annual Amarnath Yatra commenced on Thursday, with the first batch of pilgrims setting off from the twin base camps at Baltal and Nunwan. The Yatris are on their way to the cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas, officials said. Over 5000 Yatris, chanting 'Bam Bam Bhole' and 'Har Har Mahadev,' started early today morning from the twin tracks- the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday morning flagged off the first batch of pilgrims from the Bhagwati Nagar Base Camp in Jammu. The pilgrims had reached the twin base camps of Nunwan and Baltal from Jammu last evening amid a warm welcome by locals and administration Officials said of the first batch, over 2000 pilgrims began the Yatra through Baltal and over 3000 via Pahalgam. The pilgrims set out early Thursday on their challenging journey, traversing forested mountain trails. While some undertook the trek on foot, others traveled on ponies. The pilgrims from Baltal were ceremoniously flagged off by Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri. Secretary, Science and Technology Department, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, who is the Nodal Officer for Yatra-2025 for Baltal axis; Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal, Jatin Kishore; SSP Ganderbal, Khalil Poswal; and other senior officers from the District Administration and Police were also present on the occasion. The Baltal base camp echoed with chants of "Bam Bam Bhole" and "Har Har Mahadev", as thousands of ecstatic pilgrims including men, women, elderly devotees, and sadhus, set off on their sacred journey to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji. The pilgrims expressed joy and appreciation for the robust arrangements made by the Jammu and Kashmir UT Administration, Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB), and the Police. They lauded the seamless coordination and facilities put in place to ensure a smooth and secure Yatra experience. From Nunwan Pahalgam, the Yatra was flagged by Deputy Commissioner Anantnag Syeed Fakhruddin Hamid and Senior Superintendent of Police Anantnag Amritpal Singh. This year's Amarnath pilgrimage comes more than two months after a deadly terror attack at the Baisaran meadow in Pahalgam, in which 25 tourists and a local were killed. The 38-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 9. UNI MJR RKM
India Gazette
a day ago
- Health
- India Gazette
J-K: Medical camps set up as 38-day Amarnath Yatra commences today
Ramban (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 3 (ANI): Authorities have set up 17 medical camps at langar sites, established mini hospitals, and deployed ambulances across Ramban district as the 38-day Amarnath pilgrimage commences today, weeks after the Pahalgam terror attack that left 26 people dead following religious profiling. Ramban Chief Medical Officer Kamal Zadoo told ANI, 'On behalf of the health department, we have set up 17 camps at langar sites and lodgement centres across Ramban district from Nashri tunnel to Navyug tunnel. Mini hospitals have been established at Yatri Niwas Chanderkot and Lambhar Ground, featuring a four-bed indoor facility, a laboratory, and an ECG unit. We have also placed cardiac monitors there this year. Two ambulances have been deployed at Yatri Niwas Chanderkot, the Langar Site in Chanderkot, and Lambhar Ground. We have also kept back-up ambulances for any untoward incidents...' 'The National Highway Authority and the administration have provided four additional ambulances, which we have deployed for yatra duty'. Earlier today, a fresh batch of pilgrims set off for the holy cave of Shri Amarnath Baba, chanting 'Har Har Mahadev' and 'Bam Bam Bhole' as they began their journey. One pilgrim at the Baltal base camp, who is visiting the Amarnath shrine for the 14th time, praised the arrangements. 'I am from Sangrur, Punjab. This is the 14th time I have come for the Amarnath Yatra. There is no need to rush. The arrangements made by the government are excellent,' he told ANI. A pilgrim from Bengal, who was part of the first group departing from the Pahalgam base camp, also expressed satisfaction. 'We are very happy. We have no fear. Our government is very good... Our Army is also very good. We have no reason to be afraid,' he said. Another devotee from the same batch added, 'The facilities are very good... Everything belongs to Bhole Baba. We possess nothing... The arrangements are excellent.' Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said the enthusiasm among devotees for the 38-day yatra is unmatched. 'This Yatra is not just a religious Yatra. Security forces, 'pitthus', and every service provider are involved in it... The enthusiasm among the devotees is unparalleled. I pray that everyone's wishes are fulfilled and there is peace and happiness in Kashmir and the rest of the country,' he said. Kavita Saini, a pilgrim making her first trip to Amarnath, also shared her experience. 'This is my first time for the Amarnath Yatra. The experience is very good. We got our medical certificate and registration from here. Everyone was very helpful. The Delhi Police and Kashmir Police were all very helpful to us... I will pray that there is peace and happiness in our country and that whatever happened recently does not happen again.' The 38-day pilgrimage ends on August 9. It will follow two routes, the traditional 48-kilometre Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-kilometre Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The first group of pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on July 2. (ANI)
Deccan Herald
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Deccan Herald
Kashmiri Muslims extend warm welcome to Amarnath pilgrims
The air buzzed with a spirit of togetherness as chants of 'Bam Bam Bhole' echoed alongside smiles of welcome from local Muslims.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Time of India
Amarnath Yatra begins amid tight security, devotees undeterred by terror threat
SRINAGAR/JAMMU: Chants of 'Bam Bam Bhole' and 'Har Har Mahadev' echoed through Kashmir valley Wednesday as the first convoy of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims crossed Qazigund-Banihal tunnel, marking the start of the annual Himalayan pilgrimage under unprecedented security. Garlanded with flowers and greeted with traditional Kashmiri hospitality, the pilgrims — part of a 5,892-strong batch — were flagged off from the Jammu base camp at Bhagwati Nagar early morning by lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha. A convoy of 310 vehicles carried the devotees toward the sacred Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir. 'Undeterred by recent terrorist activities, devotees of Lord Shiva are arriving in huge numbers, demonstrating their immense faith,' said Sinha. 'I hope this year's yatra will be even more historic than previous years.' The pilgrimage, running from July 3 to Aug 9, is taking place amid heightened security following the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam that killed 26, mostly tourists. A multi-layered security grid with advanced surveillance technology blankets the region. Pilgrims have been advised to travel only in designated convoys, with a separate govt advisory warning journalists against disguising themselves as yatris. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like O que é ar-condicionado sem dutos no Brasil? Knowledge Knower Undo The twin routes to the shrine — Pahalgam (36-48km, 3–5 days) and Baltal (14km, 1–2 days) —remain under constant vigil. Authorities warned pilgrims not to arrive before scheduled dates and reiterated that misrepresentation of identity, especially by media, would result in strict action. Among the first-day pilgrims: 1,043 women, 31 children, 16 trans people, 335 sadhus, and 72 sadhvis. Many will trek on foot or via ponies, palkis, or helicopters toward the 3,888m-high cave shrine that houses the naturally formed ice Shivling. Rain fell. Conch shells blew. Hymns filled the air at Yatri Niwas in Jammu. The spiritual energy of Amarnath Yatra surged forward — undaunted, united, unshaken. 'No matter how many bombs are hurled, devotees will not be deterred,' said Sarvanand Patel from Gujarat. Ramesh Chander added: 'We pray that everybody gets darshan in peace. Army and security forces are here.' Manoj Kumar from UP echoed the sentiment: 'There is no fear among us. We have faith in our Baba Amarnath-ji and the forces.' Ram Prasad, another UP devotee, said terrorist threats will never shake their spiritual resolve. J&K deputy CM Surinder Choudhary welcomed pilgrims at Banihal and raised the political pitch by expressing hope that 'the next Amarnath Yatra would take place in a full-fledged state'. He claimed LG Sinha performed a special puja praying for the restoration of statehood — though BJP did not immediately comment. At Baltal base camp, BJP spokesperson and J&K Waqf Board chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi reviewed facilities and met officials and service providers. 'The yatra is a powerful symbol of communal harmony in Kashmir,' she said. 'It represents Hindu-Muslim unity, and we are all committed to strengthening that bond.'
United News of India
3 days ago
- United News of India
Amarnath Yatra: Over 5500 pilgrims leave Jammu-based camp as LG Sinha flags off first batch
Jammu, July 2 (UNI) More than 5500 pilgrims chanting 'Bam Bam Bhole' today morning left for Shri Amarnath Cave Shrine situated in Anantnag district of Kashmir here from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas base camp. The yatra was flagged off by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha in the presence of senior administrative and police officials and the members of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board. Officials said that a total of 5892 pilgrims this morning left in a fleet of 310 vehicles comprising light motor vehicles and heavy motor vehicles for the twin Pahalgam and Baltal routes. For Pahalgam, 2489 pilgrims, and for Baltal, 3403 pilgrims left from the base camp, they added. Meanwhile the chants of 'Bam Bam Bhole' echoed in the air early in the morning as the yatra was flagged off with religious fervour and devotion. Enthusiasm was visible among the devotees who boarded the buses for onwards journeys. Chanting 'Bam Bam Bhole' and 'Har Har Mahadev', the devotees expressed happiness at the start of the yatra. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said, "flagged off the first batch of pilgrims of Shri Amarnath Yatra from Bhagwati Nagar Base Camp. Wishing all spiritual seekers a safe and comfortable journey to the holy abode of Lord Shiva and a deeply soul-stirring experience. Prayed to Baba Amarnath for peace and blessings to all." Meanwhile, a senior official said that 60 RFID centres are established at five prominent districts in the Jammu region. He also added that the yatra will be allowed only via road under proper regulation by the administration and security forces, adding that elaborate arrangements have been put in place in the Bhagwati Nagar Yatra camp, where the Yatris will arrive before leaving in convoys for the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps. A total of 141 lodgment centres have also been established in Jammu Division with adequate civic amenities and security arrangements, while 52 langars and 60 RFID centres are made functional in Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur and Ramban Districts, and five registration centres with a token centre at Saraswati Dham are also made operational in Jammu, he added. However, the convoy was escorted by security forces from Jammu to the base camps in Kashmir. UNI VBH ARN 0812
