Patna: Bihar Legislative Assembly Speaker Prem Kumar, who is on a five-day visit to Jammu & Kashmir, met Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha at Lok Bhawan in Srinagar on Saturday and discussed contemporary issues, including preparations for the Shri Amarnath Yatra scheduled to begin on July 3.A communique from the Speaker’s office said Sinha briefed Kumar in detail on arrangements for the pilgrimage, security measures for devotees, facilities along the route and the extensive administrative management being put in place.Following the meeting, Kumar said the yatra would officially run from July 3 to August 28, coinciding with Rakshabandhan. He said a large number of devotees from Bihar were also expected to participate in the arduous high-altitude pilgrimage. The 57-day annual yatra draws lakhs of Hindu devotees to the holy cave shrine managed by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board. The cave, located in the Himalayas at an altitude of 3,888 metres, houses the naturally formed ice stalagmite Shivling, symbolising Lord Shiva, he said.Sinha expressed confidence that the pilgrimage would be completed successfully and peacefully this year as well.Kumar praised the Jammu & Kashmir administration’s efforts to ensure the convenience and safety of pilgrims. “Shri Amarnath Yatra is a powerful symbol of the country’s cultural and spiritual unity. I am fully confident that with the coordinated efforts of all, this yatra will be successfully organized,” he said.The two also exchanged views on development works in Jammu & Kashmir, infrastructure expansion, tourism promotion and public welfare issues.Kumar also visited Baisaran Valley in Pahalgam, where three heavily armed militants affiliated with Pakistan-backed Lashkar-e-Taiba stormed the area on April 22, 2025, killing 26 civilians, mainly tourists. He visited sites linked to the attack and paid tributes to the victims.A day earlier, Kumar met Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah in Srinagar and discussed issues of mutual interest as well as avenues for stronger inter-governmental cooperation between Bihar and the Union Territory.
