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| Escalated tension casts 'shadows' on Amarnath Yatra | | Govt 'determined' for formal flag off today | | EARLY TIMES REPORT
JAMMU, June 29: Notwithstanding the dilemma of volatile situation in Valley and the vagaries of weather, which suddenly turned turbulent this morning , the state government is all set and 'determined' to flag off the annual Amarnath Yatra from the winter capital tomorrow. With arrival of hundreds of pilgrims here today, the Yatra will be flagged off by the Tourism Minister Nawang Rigzin Jora from Yatri Niwas, the Base camp in Jammu. The government is only keeping its 'fingers crossed' that neither of the two factors 'impose any impediments' .
Though hundreds of Yatris have arrived during the last few days and many of them already left for Kashmir, the formal Yatra will begin tomorrow with flagging off of the first batch of pilgrims amid gala bandobast of facilities and tight security arrangements enroute the National Highway upto Base camps of both the routes of Baltal and Pahalgam. As per the schedule drawn by the Shrine Board, since the first batch has to report at Chandawari, the commencement point from traditional route on July 1, it needs to be flagged off from Jammu tomorrow.The first batch will be flagged off in a cavalcade interspersed with security vehicles at five in the morning.
Interestingly, amid reports of violence and riots which erupted in the Anantnag district today, the Yatris who arrived here from different parts of the country too are 'well- spirited' and enthusiastic about the commencement of Yatra in a peaceful and smooth manner. The determination of the government which has put in all preparations for formal flag off in place and the undeterred spirit of the majority of Yatris is indeed appreciable.However, there were few , particularly who are venturing out for the Holy pilgrimage for the first time who exhibited some nervousness and apprehensions in the wake of fresh spate of violent protests across the valley.
"We heard it news that protestors are defying the curfew……the real worry is that violence has spread in the Anantnag township, which is the entry point for both the routes……", said a Yatri from Delhi. However, others exuded confidence reinforced by the their religious fervour as also by the optimism exhibited by the concerned authorities about safety and smooth conduct of pilgrimage. Pilgrims started pouring in since morning through different modes of communication and accumulated at Yatri Niwas where all the facilities from medicare to food, ATM, telephone etc have been provided by the District administration, state tourism Department and the Shrine Board . The paraphernalia of facilities made pilgrims happy, yet it was the dilemma of situation and weather that remained on their mind for their spiritual strides.
"The Yatra has to be flagged tomorrow………everything including security measures in place and there is no worry on any front…..we are only watchful about the weather as there are reports it having turned inclement at certain points", said Divisional Commissioner Dr Pawan Kotwal, who is supervising the Yatra from Jammu . "The government is also watchful about other aspects and is there to take full care of Yatris on all fronts…", said Director Tourism. Both Administration and police authorities took assessment of the facilities at Yatri Bhawan this evening and interacted with the pilgrims which came as reassuring factor for some apprehensive lot.
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