SRINAGAR: After the gap of two years following the Covid-19, this year, the first batch of annual Shri Amarnathji Yatra reached Srinagar on Wednesday.
They were welcomed by the Deputy Commissioner Srinagar and other officers of the District Administration in presence of SSP Srinagar, Rakesh Balwal, Commissioner SMC, Athar Amir Khan, SSP Traffic Muzafar Ahmad Shah and other senior officers of Police and Civil Administration were present on the occasion.
While, Mayor, Srinagar Municipal Corporation, Junaid Azam Mattoo, Chairman District Development Council(DDC), Srinagar, Malik Aftab Ahmad, Vice Chairman DDC, Bilal Ahmad, DDC Member Balhama, Aijaz Ahmad and other PRIs also welcomed the Yatries at the venue.
On this occasion, the Mayor, DDC Chairman as well as Deputy Commissioner along with locals representatives welcomed the Pilgrims and prayed for smooth, safe and peaceful conduct of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra
While expressing their gratitude to the District Administration for welcoming them, the yatries said that they were waiting for two years to pay obeisance at Shri Amanathji and are very happy to see it happen.
The Yatra to Shri Amarnath Cave of Lord Shiva, located in the upper reaches of the Himalayas, started today from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal. While in Srinagar a Yatra Transit camp en-route yatra has been established at Panthachowk by the District Administration Srinagar for the convenience of Yatries as a temporary halt station.
At the Yatra Transit Camp Panthachowk, this year all necessary arrangements have been made for the convenience of the Amarnath Yatries including boarding, healthcare, sanitation, langer, communication, traffic, parking, e-KYC/RFID registration facilities.
Later, the Deputy Commissioner also visited the Yatra Transit Camp Panthachowk to oversee the arrangements made for the visiting yatries.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner has said that people of Kashmir have been wholeheartedly welcoming the Yatra since decades as it is not mere a yatra but a major economic boost to economy of J&K, as the Government is expecting Rs 2500 crore revenue from 6 to 8 lakh Yatris expected to visit other places as well.