In the Kashmir Valley, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited the Nunwan and Chandanwari base camps in south Kashmir's Anantnag district today. During his visit, the Lt Governor interacted with the pilgrims, service providers and the administrative and security officials who are deputed for this year's Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra.

The Lt Governor took stock of the arrangements and directed all concerned departments to take every possible measure to make Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra smooth, safe and hassle-free for devotees. He said Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra has contributed immensely to our composite culture in the last several centuries and the annual pilgrimage provides a perfect opportunity to showcase J&K's priceless culture and historic transformation.

Manoj Sinha said the annual pilgrimage brings people from different walks of life and States together in one place. He observed that it is not only a symbol of the brotherhood of humankind but also shows the path to spiritual salvation and inspires all to embrace equality, compassion and humanism. He maintained that the world's eyes are on J&K, as we celebrate the annual yatra. He said all the concerned authorities should work together to give a warm welcome and memorable experience to the pilgrims.

The Lt Governor directed all the stakeholders to liaise closely with the team on the ground to ensure effective coordination on cut-off timings to enable the smooth conduct of pilgrimage and to also facilitate locals and tourists. He instructed the concerned officers to explore all the possibilities to further improve traffic management and to ensure the smooth movement of pilgrims through the checkpoints.  He also discussed the deployment of trained manpower for the Yatra, who had contributed to the recently held G20 Summit at Srinagar.

At the DRDO hospital, the Lt Governor interacted with the doctors and medical team. He directed the officials to ensure round-the-clock healthcare facilities during the yatra. He also took appraisal of various services like lodging, Langar, power and water supply, sanitation, health and other facilities to the pilgrims.