The annual Amarnath Yatra, a sacred Hindu pilgrimage to the Amarnath temple in Jammu and Kashmir, begins today, July 1.
Spanning a duration of 62 days, the pilgrimage to the Amarnath temple will culminate on August 31.
Pilgrims have two route options for the yatra: the 48km Nunwan route in Pahalgam, South Kashmir, and the 14km Baltal route in Ganderbal, Central Kashmir.
First group of pilgrims departs from Jammu's Bhagwati Nagar base camp on June 30, traveling via Jammu-Srinagar highway to reach Pahalgam and Baltal base camps.
Security has been tightened across the state for the yatra, which has been disrupted since 2019.
To ensure robust security, the highway is fortified with heavy deployments, and the region is under surveillance with the aid of drones.
Multi-tiered arrangements have been implemented, encompassing night-vision devices, snipers, drone systems, and dog squads.
For the safety of pilgrims, multiple battalions of the Central Reserve Police Force have been strategically stationed in the Udhampur district.
To ensure the convenience of pilgrims in case of adverse weather conditions and subsequent highway closure, transit camps have been set up to provide suitable accommodation arrangements.
24/7 operational 100-bedded DRDO hospitals inaugurated at Baltal and Chandanwari for Amarnath Yatra, ensuring prompt medical assistance with dedicated teams.