Extraordinary hustle-bustle in Bhagwati Nagar
*LG to flag-off first batch of Amarnath Yatra today
Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU, July 1: There was an extraordinary hustle-bustle in Bhagwati Nagar area of Jammu and people from almost all the States of the country were seen in diverse dresses carrying big travel bags and chanting slogans of “Har Har Mahadev, Jai Baba Barfani, Bum Bum Bhole” while they were proceeding towards the base camp of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra in Bhagwati Nagar, the first batch of which will be flagged off from here on Wednesday at 4 am by Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha.
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The 38-day long pilgrimage to the cave shrine at a height of 3,880 metres in Kashmir Himalayas will commence on July 3, from two routes- the 48 km traditional Pahalgam track in Anantnag district and the 14 km tough Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The Yatra will culminate on August 9.
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Official sources informed that thousands of registrations were done till Wednesday evening and about 2000 registered pilgrims had reached the fortified base camp in Bhagwati Nagar.
A large cavalcade of vehicles will leave for Kashmir Himalayas carrying the pilgrims at wee hours tomorrow.
Authorities have started on-the-spot registration for the pilgrims arriving in Jammu city from different parts of the country after they get tokens.
On-the-spot registration centre has been set up for the unregistered pilgrims at Mahajan Sabha in Shalamar area of the city while a special camp for registration of Saints has been set up at Ram temple in Purani Mandi and the registration is also being done at Vaishnavi Dham and Panchayat Bhawan.
Saraswati Dham is the only centre from where devotees can get the token and it opens at 7 am.
Sources informed that arrangements have been made to provide boarding and lodging facilities to over 50,000 visiting pilgrims at various lodgement centres across the Jammu region, from Lakhanpur to Banihal and a total of 106 lodgement centres have been set up for the purpose.
Mahant Rameshwar Dass of ancient Ram temple at Purani Mandi in the heart of Jammu city informed that about 250 seers of different hues will leave the temple tomorrow morning to proceed for the cave shrine in Kashmir Himalayas to pay obeisance.
The Ram temple at Purani Mandi serves as the base camp for saints and seers.
SSP Traffic Jammu, Farooq Qaiser Malik told reporters that during Yatra days, heavy vehicles will not be allowed after 10 pm and light vehicles after 12 mid night on national highway from Jammu to proceed for Kashmir.
“Those who wish to travel to Kashmir for Yatra (out of convoy) or otherwise should move from 6 am to 12 noon and after that they will not be allowed,” he maintained adding that the travellers should plan their journey accordingly.
However, there is tight security arrangement for the safe pilgrimage and a total of 180 companies of Central Armed Police Force have been deployed for providing security to the visiting pilgrims.
A senior Police officer informed that amidst tight security arrangements the Yatra will proceed towards Kashmir where the pilgrims will pay obeisance to the naturally formed Ice Lingam in Himalayas.
He said that more and more number of people from across the country should visit J&K for performing the pilgrimage at the holy cave without any fear as there is an adequate security arrangement in place to ensure their security.
The Police officer asked the visiting pilgrims that on noticing any suspicious movement, activity or person they should immediately inform the nearest Police establishment.
Meanwhile, LG Manoj Sinha today visited Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar and reviewed arrangements for the pilgrims of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.
He took stock of food and lodging of the pilgrims, security, registration counters, power and water supply, health facilities, help desks, sanitation, transportation and emergency services.
At Yatri Niwas, the LG interacted with devotees of Baba Barfani and extended them his warm wishes for a safe, blessed and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage.
On the sidelines of his visit, the LG told reporters that a large number of devotees from across the country have arrived for the yatra, which is beginning from Jammu tomorrow morning.
“Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra is a serene, enlightening and lifelong experience. May their pilgrimage be filled with joy, peace and spiritual bliss,” he maintained adding: “Improved arrangements have been made for the convenience of pilgrims. We must carry forward the tradition of J&K and make this Yatra a huge success.”
The Lieutenant Governor was accompanied by DGP, Nalin Prabhat; ADG CRPF, Rajesh Kumar; Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Ramesh Kumar; IGP Jammu, Bhim Sen Tuti; Deputy Commissioner Jammu, Sachin Kumar Vaishya and senior officials from civil administration, Police and security forces.
Meanwhile, the LG also chaired a high-level meeting today in Srinagar with the senior officers and reviewed the final preparations for Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.
The meeting was attended by Chief Secretary, Atal Dulloo; Additional Chief Secretary, Jal Shakti Department, Shaleen Kabra; DGP Nalin Prabhat; Special Director General (Coordination), PHQ, S.J.M Gillani; Principal Secretary Home, Chandraker Bharti; Principal Secretary, Finance, Santosh D Vaidya; ADGP CID, Nitish Kumar; Principal Secretary to LG and CEO SASB, Dr Mandeep K. Bhandari and senior officials of SASB, Police and Civil Administration.
The LG took a comprehensive review of the traffic and security management and all the arrangements were properly put in place by the stakeholder departments for the smooth, safe and hassle-free pilgrimage.
He directed the officials for widespread publicity of Traffic Advisory so that common man is not inconvenienced.
“District Administrations, SSPs, Traffic Police and stakeholder departments should work in close coordination to ensure movement of pilgrims in designated convoys and smooth implementation of the traffic plan,” the LG said.
He also directed the Deputy Commissioners to ensure that lodgement centres and sanitation units are in good condition.
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