Srinagar, Jul 01 (KNS): As the 46-day-long begin on Monday; the first batch of Amarnath yatries reached the Sonamarg, Baltal base camps in Ganderbal district safely, amid heightened security arrangements.

The 46-day-long Amarnath yatra will culminate on August 15 with over 1.5 lakh people registering themselves for the pilgrimage.

The first batch of yatries from Domail-Baltal to holy cave was flagged off by the Additional District Development Commissioner (ADDC) Ganderbal, Shafqat Iqbal, who is also officiating as Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal along with SSP Ganderbal Khalil Poswal. SSP Yatra, SSP JPCR, Camp Director and other concerned Officers were present on the occasion.

Meanwhile, Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Khalil Ahmad Poswal told Kashmir News Service (KNS) that the first batch of pilgrims has reached the baltal base camp safely.

Asked about the security arrangements, Poswal said that unlike previous years, the yatra is going on from many years Yatyra and security arrangements this year have been further tightened unlike the previous years.

He added the weakness or lacuna of previous year was reviewed and domination, lateral protection, convoy protection and pedestrian route protection, and other related arrangements were taken accordingly.

Poswal further added that drones, bar coding and access control, mobile accessory scanners have been introduced this time on highway so that “we can go for maximum surveillance and keep vigil of miscreants.”

Reacting to the complaints of local commuters that are being stopped during the passage of Amarnath yatries, he said that “the lateral route is being blocked for almost 15-20 minutes so that no vehicle would ram and blast.”

However, he said that there is a generous response from the locals here for the yatries with 15000 people including boniwalas, shawl sellers and others around the camp and supporting the yatries. “Conducting the yatra is not possible without the support of local populace,” he added.

Pertinently, while flagging off the first batch of yatries, ADDC along with officers also interacted with the pilgrims to have the firsthand appraisal regarding the facilities at the Baltal Base Camp.

Speaking on the occasion, the ADDC while wishing the Yatries a happy and safe pilgrimage said that district administration has made adequate arrangements with regard to stay and the security of the Yatries, provisions for lodging in case of any halt of Yatra along the track due to bad weather.

The departments associated with the Yatra have already made all necessary arrangements with regard to sanitation, hygiene, wire meshing along the track, Health, etc for the comfort of Yatries and hoped that this year Yatra will be more safe, secure and comfortable. (KNS)