First batch of pilgrims leave for Amarnath yatra

The first batch comprising of 5,100 Amarnath yatris are flagged off by the state minister for health Choudhary Lal Singh from the Lakhanpur base camp. "The first batch comprising of 5,100 Amarnath pilgrims was flagged off by the minister for health Choudhary Lal Singh from Lakhanpur base camp- the gateway of Jammu and Kashmir- for onward journey to the Himalayan cave shrine in South Kashmir District of Anantnag," an official spokesman said. The pilgrims left Lakhanpur at 10 am, while many of them registered themselves for the annual pilgrimage on spot for which the government has put up a special counter. District Development Commissioner Kathua Ajay Singh Jamwal, besides other senior officers of civil and police were present at the flagging off ceremony. Earlier, interacting with the pilgrims, Lal Singh said that government has made adequate arrangements for smooth conduct of the yatra from Lakhanpur to cave shrine. "Entire state administration is fully geared up to provide every facility like, drinking water, medicare, electricity and security to the yatris at base camps," he said.