Annual Harmukh Yatra kicks off amid tight security

Srinagar, Sep 5 (IANS) Amid tight security arrangements, the annual Harmukh Yatra kicked off from Ganderbal district in Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday morning."The annual Harmukh Yatra started today. All yatris have started the ascent to the Holy Lake Gangbal. The district administration along with Army and paramilitary forces have made excellent arrangements for the safe pilgrimage," Vinod Pandit, Chairman of the All Party Migrants Coordination Committee (APMCC) said in a tweet.According to district officials, the pilgrimage to the Harmukh-Gangbal lake situated at an elevation of 3,570 meters started from Ganderbal district on early Thursday morning after a group of Pandit pilgrims left for ancient Harmukh-Gangbal yatra.Gangabal is located on the hills of Harmukh range in north-east of Kashmir valley, at a height of 12,000 feet on the Ganderbal-Sonamarg road.
--IANS aks/sdr