The first batch of annual Amarnath Yatra which left Jammu this morning for the cave shrine in the South Kashmir is now on its way to Nunwan and Baltal base camps for their onward journey to the holy shrine. It will perform darshan of the Holy icelingam tomorrow. Strict security arrangements have been made for the yatra. Barricades and check points have been created at several places along the two routes to ensure that only registered pilgrims proceed to the holy cave shrine located at an altitude of 3,880 metres.

Despite inclement weather, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has put in place all the arrangements for the commencement of this year's pilgrimage from Pahalgam to the cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas. Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) Naveen K Chaudhury, who has been monitoring the preparations for the past two months, said the snow clearance on both traditional Pahalgam and Baltal routes has been completed. The yatra will be opened formally tomorrow with Governor N N Vohra, who is also chairman of the SASB, performing the Pooja at the cave shrine. Yatra control rooms have been established in Nunwan and Baltal base camp and the pilgrims will only be allowed to proceed towards the cave shrine after obtaining the latest weather update from the meteorological stations set up at the base camps.