Kashmir residents extend warm welcome to pilgrims

Local authorities gave a warm welcome to the first batch of Amarnath yatra pilgrims at several places in Kashmir, as hundreds of them turned up at in the Valley on Wednesday.

The first batch of 5,892 yatris was flagged off from the yatra base camp in Bhagwati Nagar in Jammu by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha. Upon their arrival in the Kashmir valley, the pilgrims' convoys received a rousing welcome from the administration, and the locals, in Kulgam, Anantnag, and Srinagar districts, officials said.

The pilgrims reached the Valley through the Navyug tunnel in Qazigund area of south Kashmir's Kulgam district, where they were welcomed by the South Kashmir Range deputy inspector general of police and Kulgam deputy commissioner.

BJP leader Ravindra Raina was also among those who welcomed the yatris with garlands, flower bouquets, sweets, and flower petals.

In Srinagar, district administration led by DDC chairperson, Deputy Commissioner Akshay Labroo along with Senior Superintendent of Police Sundeep Chakravarthy warmly welcomed the pilgrims as they arrived at Pantha Chowk. The DDC Cchairperson, DC, SSP and officials from the District Administration along with senior officers from SMC and Police Department were present at the reception site to assist and guide the pilgrims.

The convoys left separately for the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps, from where they will leave for the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine early Thursday.

The pilgrims were also hailed at Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam, and Nowgam area of the city, while they were on their way to the base camps, officials said.

The 38-day pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine will commence on Thursday from the Valley via the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district, and the 14-km shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district.