First batch of Amarnath yatris flagged off from Lakhanpur base camp

The first batch of 5,100 Amarnath yatris was flagged off on Tuesday by Jammu and Kashmir health minister Choudhary Lal Singh from the Lakhanpur base camp in Kathua district

The first batch of 5,100 Amarnath yatris was flagged off on Tuesday by Jammu and Kashmir health minister Choudhary Lal Singh from the Lakhanpur base camp in Kathua district

The pilgrims left Lakhanpur at 10 am. Many devotees got themselves registered for the annual pilgrimage on the spot as the government had put up a special counter for the purpose.

The yatris later arrived in Jammu from where they will proceed to the Himalayan cave shrine in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district. The 59-day pilgrimage will begin on July 2 and conclude on August 29.

Union home minister Rajnath Singh will arrive here on Wednesday on a two-day visit to review the security arrangements for Amarnath Yatra and offer prayers at the shrine on July 2.