Excelsior Correspondent
KATHUA, June 30: Minister for Health and Medical Education, ARI and Trainings Choudhary Lal Singh today flagged off first batch of 5100 pilgrims of Shri Amarnathji Yatra from Lakhanpur base camp- the gateway of Jammu and Kashmir- for onward journey to the Himalayan cave shrine in South Kashmir District of Anantnag.
The pilgrims left Lakhanpur at 10 a.m, while many of them registered themselves for the annual pilgrimage on spot for which Government has put up a special counter.
District Development Commissioner Kathua Ajay Singh Jamwal, Deputy Commissioner Excise Rajesh Sharma, Director Health Services Dr. Baljeet Singh Pathania, Additional Development Commissioner Kathua Manmohan Singh besides other senior officers of civil and police were present at the flagging off ceremony.
Earlier, interacting with the pilgrims and media persons, Choudhary Lal Singh said 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
He said this year, the Health and Medical Education Department has set up medical aid camps at a distance of 10 kilometer from Lakhanpur to Cave shrine.
First batch of pilgrims, which left Lakhanpur amid chanting of religious slogans, hymns and prayers, included males, females and children on a fleet of 27 buses and 21 Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs).
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