Annual Kailash Kund Yatra Set to Begin Amid Tight Security in Udhampur District

The annual Kailash Kund Yatra will commence on August 30 in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district. Tight security measures are in place due to recent terror incidents. The three-day pilgrimage to Kailash Kund, dedicated to deity Vasuki Nag, has been practiced for thousands of years.

The three-day annual Kailash Kund Yatra is set to commence on August 30 in Jammu and Kashmir's Udhampur district amid tight security arrangements, officials here said on Saturday.

The yatra will begin amid a high threat perception following multiple terror incidents in the Udhampur-Doda mountainous belt over the past two months, prompting authorities to bolster security in the area.

The yatra to the high-altitude Lake shrine of Kailash Kund will begin from Udhampur's Dudu area on August 30. The three-day holy pilgrimage, dedicated to the deity Vasuki Nag of Bhaderwah town, has been observed for thousands of years. It attracts thousands of pilgrims during its limited procession days between August and September.

Deputy Commissioner (DC) Udhampur, Saloni Rai, finalised the necessary arrangements for the yatra during a meeting with officers and civil society members in Dudu subdivision of Udhampur district. Discussions included the supply of essential commodities, installation of drinking water points along the route from Dudu base camp to Seoj Dhar, and provisions for medical care, transport facilities, tents, and blankets.

The Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) of Dudu will serve as the Nodal Officer overseeing all arrangements from Dudu base camp to Kailash Kund and will establish a control room in Dudu to ensure the smooth conduct of the yatra. The DC instructed department heads to finalise all arrangements in advance to minimise inconvenience to pilgrims. Medical teams will be deployed at both Dudu base camp and Seoj Dhar to ensure the health and safety of pilgrims.

The pilgrimage sees participation from pilgrims hailing from regions including Dudu, Basantgarh, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu, Kathua, Udhampur, Chenani, and Ramnagar.

(With inputs from agencies.)