Current Matters
Jammu, June 30: With annual Amarnath yatra all set to begin from tomorrow, the first batch of pilgrims today left for the cave shrine from Jammu with high security cover.
A convoy carrying 3488 pilgrims was flagged off by Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha in wee hours today.
The Lt Governor wished all the devotees a safe and spiritually-fulfilling journey and prayed for peace, prosperity and happiness to all.
This year more efforts have been put in by Jammu and Kashmir government to make the yatra a huge success, which included illuminating the cave shrine route and ensuring security of pilgrims. For the last one month government has been actively involved in the yatra arrangements and dedicated staff from administration and police was put in place to ensure things are put in place.
Speaking on the flag off ceremony, LG Sinha said, “The holy pilgrimage is the ultimate bliss. It is the path of humility, compassion and awareness. Shiv Sutra says, क्समो भैरव:, the spiritual endeavour is Bhairava, the first step to experience the divine. It is the journey of inner transformation.”
The UT Administration has made elaborate arrangements for the safe and hassle-free pilgrimage of the devotees of Shri Amarnath Ji,” the Lt Governor said.
Eminent spiritual leaders; members of PRIs and ULBs; heads of religious organizations, senior officers of civil administration, Police, security forces and SASB officials, prominent citizens, and devotees in large number were present on the occasion.
Amarnath yatra will continue till Raksha Bandhan in the month of August and lakhs of devotees from all over the country are expected to perform the annual pilgrimage this year.
Meanwhile, a deputy superintendent of police was among four security personnel injured in an accident near Wali Nallah on Jammu-Srinagar national highway in Udhampur district, when a vehicle, in which they were travelling, skidded off the road and fell into a drain. These security personnel were part of the convoy of Amarnath yatra. All the injured were shifted to district hospital Udhampur for the treatment.
