Senior Officials Conduct Amarnath Yatra Dry Run, Review Security and Pilgrim Arrangements

JAMMU, JUNE 29 : Senior civil and police officials on Monday participated in a dry run of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra convoy along the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway to review security, logistics and overall preparedness ahead of the annual pilgrimage beginning July 3. Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and Inspector General of Police Bhim Sen Tuti flagged off the convoy from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu at 5 a.m. and travelled in one of the buses to assess arrangements firsthand during the journey. The exercise was conducted to evaluate convoy movement, security deployment, traffic management, logistics and coordination among various agencies responsible for the smooth conduct of the 57-day pilgrimage. The heavily escorted convoy reached Ramban district headquarters in about four hours after civilian traffic was temporarily suspended on the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway. Officials also reviewed facilities for pilgrims at the Chanderkoot Yatra Langar before the convoy proceeded towards Banihal. The dry run will conclude after the convoy reaches the twin base camps at Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district. The annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra will commence on July 3 via the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route. The first batch of pilgrims is scheduled to leave the Bhagwati Nagar base camp on July 2. Traffic authorities said civilian movement on the highway from Qazigund will resume only after the Yatra convoy safely passes through the area.