Union minister Jitendra Singh today reviewed arrangements for the annual Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir and said it was the "collective responsibility" of all stakeholders to make the pilgrimage a success.
The yatra is an annual affair and does not belong to any particular community, but signifies the fusion of different cultures. It highlights India's unity in diversity, he said at the Lakhanpur base camp in Kathua district.
Welcoming those entering the state for the yatra, the Minister of State in Prime Minister's Office said the state and central government have made adequate arrangements to make the pilgrimage "safe and comfortable" for them.
Elaborate facilities like drinking water, medicare, power, fool proof security arrangements as well as proper accommodation during halt have been made available all along the route, he said.
Singh also appealed people to undergo proper medical checkup and registration as he said the pilgrims have to brave inclement weather conditions during the journey.
The AmaranthYatra to 3,880-metre high cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas started from both Baltal and Pahalgam routes today after a delay of several hours due to heavy rain in the morning.
The government is for the first time using radio frequency (RF) tags to track the yatra--bound vehicles, while the CRPF has introduced motorcycle squads with cameras and various life-saving equipment.
The security has been heightened for this year's yatra in view of a militant attack on a bus carrying Amarnath pilgrims last year that left eight of them dead and 18 others injured.
Later, the MoS inaugurated a building of Kendriya Vidyalaya on the outskirts of Kathua town.
An amount of Rs 21 crore was spent on the construction work executed by the Central Public Works Department, an official spokesman said.
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