First batch of Amarnath yatris reach Baltal base camp

The first batch of Amarnath pilgrims reached Baltal base camp on Friday evening, from where they will tomorrow move forward towards the holy cave.

The Baltal base camp is located in Sonamarg, around 110kms from capital Srinagar.

The pilgrims who reached Sonamarg were accommodated in the tents set up by the locals and the shrine board.

Chanting Bum Bum Bholey, the pilgrims were seen full of enthusiasm and devotion and were seen fully prepared to have a glimpse of ice lingam.

Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh today morning flagged-off first batch of 1282 Amarnath Yatris, who left for the holy cave shrine from Jammu amid tight security.

The batch of pilgrims, comprising of 900 men, 225 women and 13 children, left from Bhagwati Nagar at 5 a.m.

The authorities have made elaborate arrangements for boarding and lodging of yatris in Jammu and other parts of the state.

To review situation and take stock of all the security, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in the state on a two day visit.

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) had earlier this month conducted mock exercises at Baltal and Pahalgam base camps to assess the preparedness and response mechanism of all those involved in management of the Yatra.