Jammu, July 01: With the stage set for the annual Amarnath Yatra 2025, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, is scheduled to flag off the first batch of pilgrims from Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu at 4:00 a.m. on Tuesday, July 2. The 38-day-long pilgrimage to the 3,880-meter-high cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas will formally begin on July 3 and culminate on August 9.
According to senior officials, two convoys will leave Jammu—one via the Baltal route and the other through the traditional Pahalgam route in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The flag-off ceremony will be attended by senior ministers, BJP MLAs, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar, and other top civil and police officials.
Security Beefed Up Amid Recent Threats
In view of recent terror incidents, including the April 22 Pahalgam attack, security has been scaled up significantly. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Jammu Zone Bhim Sen Tuti confirmed that 183 companies of central armed forces—including CRPF, BSF, ITBP, SSB, CISF, along with J&K Police and Army—have been deployed across five key districts: Jammu, Samba, Kathua, Udhampur, and Ramban.
Security agencies have set up joint checkposts, facial recognition systems, drone surveillance, and K-9 squads along sensitive stretches. Road Opening Patrols (ROPs) and anti-sabotage drills have been intensified on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44). A multi-tier security grid is also active across Baltal and Pahalgam base camps.
To minimize risk, authorities have advised pilgrims to strictly adhere to convoy travel, and helicopter services have been suspended this year due to security and logistical constraints.
Over 5,000 Pilgrims Already Arrive in Jammu
More than 5,000 pilgrims have arrived in Jammu as of July 1. Special registration camps have been set up at Shalimar, Saraswati Dham, and for sadhus at Ram Mandir, Purani Mandi. Devotees were welcomed warmly at Lakhanpur in Kathua with cultural performances and assistance desks.
In his media interaction, LG Manoj Sinha said, “This is not just the administration’s Yatra—it belongs to every stakeholder. The people of J&K, the devotees, the security forces, and the administration—together we make this journey a success.”
He added that arrangements this year are better than ever, owing to extensive coordination and planning between civil and security departments.
High-Level Review and Final Touches in Srinagar
Earlier in the day, the LG chaired a high-level review meeting in Srinagar with top officials, including DGP Nalin Prabhat, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, ADGP CID Nitish Kumar, CEO SASB Dr. Mandeep K Bhandari, and divisional heads from various departments. The meeting reviewed traffic plans, security preparedness, logistics, and sanitation arrangements.
Emphasizing public cooperation, LG Sinha instructed widespread publicity of traffic advisories and called on District Commissioners, SSPs, and Traffic Police to ensure smooth vehicular movement along Yatra routes.
He further directed officials to keep lodgement centres, sanitation units, and medical camps in peak condition, and to coordinate closely to meet any emergency.
Disaster Preparedness and Public Movement
The Disaster Management Department has conducted mock drills in vulnerable zones like Pahalgam and Udhampur, simulating responses to glacier lake outburst floods, landslides, and flash floods common during the monsoon.
Authorities clarified that no highway closures are in effect, but temporary diversions will be implemented for convoy movement. The public has been advised to avoid unnecessary travel near Yatra routes during peak hours.
With inputs from KNO
