Jammu: Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha, officially flagged off the first batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims from the base camp in Jammu on Friday morning. Before the ceremony, LG Sinha offered prayers at the temple, seeking blessings for a successful pilgrimage.

In a media address following the flag-off, LG Manoj Sinha stated, "The first batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims has departed from Jammu. Over the past 3-4 years, significant arrangements have been made for the yatra. This year, the J&K administration has once again ensured all necessary arrangements and heightened security."

Thousands of pilgrims had already arrived in Jammu ahead of the Amarnath Yatra. The first batch of pilgrims will travel in a high-security convoy to the Pahalgam and Baltal base camps, where they will begin their pilgrimage to the Amarnath shrine.

Visuals from the event show pilgrims chanting "Bham Bham Bholey" and dancing in excitement, eager to be part of the first batch. BJP leader Devender Singh Rana expressed his hopes for a successful yatra, saying, "We hope that with the grace of Bhole Shankar, this year's yatra will bring happiness and be a good experience for everyone. People will receive the love, affection, and care of Jammu and Kashmir residents. The blessings of Lord Shiva will guide the path of development for all of India and Jammu and Kashmir."

To further strengthen security, CCTV cameras have been installed on national highways. Deputy Commissioner Udhampur, Saloni Rai, explained, "Around 10 CCTV points have been established from Udhampur to Banihal for continuous monitoring. If any traffic-related issues arise, we can address them immediately. Our goal is to ensure that Amarnath Yatra pilgrims have all the necessary facilities, including food, water, and electricity."

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