With just days to go for the start of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2025, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on June 30 visited the Baltal Base Camp to take stock of ground-level preparations for the annual Himalayan pilgrimage.
The Yatra is slated to begin on July 3 and will draw thousands of pilgrims to the sacred Amarnath cave shrine nestled in the South Kashmir Himalayas.
Underscoring the administration’s commitment to a smooth and secure pilgrimage, the LG said this year’s arrangements have seen “significant upgradation” across all fronts.
He credited the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB), Jammu and Kashmir Police, security forces, service providers, and multiple line departments for implementing a host of pilgrim-centric measures aimed at ensuring a peaceful, safe, and hassle-free experience.
At the Baltal Base Camp — one of the two main routes leading to the shrine — the Lieutenant Governor conducted a thorough inspection, assessing the state of infrastructure and services.
He reviewed crucial elements such as healthcare facilities, power supply, communication systems, drinking water, sanitation, food provisions, lodging, weather forecasting mechanisms, traffic regulation, surveillance setup, and emergency response preparedness.
Calling for “round-the-clock availability of basic amenities”, LG Sinha directed officials to deploy sufficient manpower and maintain a vigilant, proactive approach throughout the Yatra period.
He also inspected the Disaster Management setup and the Yatri Niwas Complex developed by the Shrine Board.
At the Baltal hospital, the LG reviewed the healthcare infrastructure and inaugurated a dedicated training ward for medical staff, a move aimed at bolstering medical response capabilities during the high-altitude Yatra.
“From logistics to security to health, every aspect of the Yatra has been addressed with enhanced coordination and infrastructure,” he said during his visit.
Accompanying the LG were key officials including K.N. Rai, Member of SASB; Dr. Mandeep K. Bhandari, Principal Secretary to the LG and CEO of SASB;
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri; IGP Kashmir V.K. Birdi; Dr. Shahid Iqbal Choudhary, Secretary of Science & Technology Department; Ganderbal DC Jatin Kishore, and senior officers from the police, security forces, and other stakeholder departments.
The Yatra, which resumes after a year of heightened infrastructure development and safety reinforcement, will once again test the logistical mettle of the administration while offering pilgrims a chance at spiritual fulfillment in one of India’s most revered religious journeys.