Army to deploy five battalions for Amarnath Yatra

The Army will deploy five battalions for the annual Amarnath Yatra which begins on June 29 this year.
One battalion each will be deployed on the northern (the Baltal) and the southern (the Pahalgam) routes of the yatra, an army official said.
Three more battalions would be deployed keeping in view the unrest in the Valley, he said.
The 40-day yatra ends on August 7.
The shrine is situated at an altitude of 12,756 feet and is about 141 km from Srinagar.
The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), which conducts the annual pilgrimage, has issued advisories for the pilgrimage saying that the people who wish to trek to the shrine must furnish medical certificates.

It has said that those below 13 or above 75 years of age will not be allowed to join the pilgrimage.
Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Jammu and Kashmir Governor N N Vohra and Union Home Secretary Rajiv Mehrishi are likely to to pay obeisance at the shrine on the first day of the pilgrimage.