J-K Food and Drugs Administration reviews food safety arrangements ahead of Amarnath Yatra 2026
Jammu, July 2
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has completed preparations for the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra 2026, with government departments, security agencies and langar organisations putting in place arrangements to ensure a safe, smooth and comfortable pilgrimage for devotees.
Langar organisations have finalised their preparations and are ready to provide free meals and essential services to pilgrims throughout the annual pilgrimage.
As part of the preparedness measures, Commissioner, Food and Drugs Administration, Jammu and Kashmir, Khalid Jahangir, along with Joint Commissioner (Food Safety) Sanjeev Kumar and Food Safety Officer, Ramban, Balbir Singh, inspected the langar site at Chanderkote earlier on Wednesday to review food safety arrangements ahead of the yatra.
During the visit, the Commissioner directed the district food safety officials to ensure continuous monitoring of food quality, hygiene, and safety standards at all langar sites serving pilgrims during the Yatra.
He emphasised that strict adherence to food safety norms is essential to safeguard the health and well-being of devotees.
Speaking to ANI, Khalid Jahangir said the department has deployed dedicated food safety teams across the yatra route.
"We are fully prepared for the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. Dedicated food safety teams have been deployed to monitor langars and other food establishments to ensure that pilgrims are provided with safe, hygienic, and quality food throughout the Yatra," he said.
Earlier, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Thursday flagged off the first batch of Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2026 pilgrims from Jammu, marking the formal commencement of the annual pilgrimage.
The Yatra witnessed large gatherings of devotees chanting "Bam Bam Bhole" at both Baltal and Pahalgam base camps in the Kashmir Valley. Just hours before the flag-off, CRPF personnel of the 137th Battalion, along with a K9 unit, sanitised the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Udhampur to ensure preparedness and security for the pilgrimage.
The 57-day pilgrimage this year will commence simultaneously from the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district on July 3.
The yatra will conclude on August 28, coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Every year we hear about food quality issues during the yatra. Let's hope this time the monitoring is actually strict and not just a photo op. Devotees' health should be top priority, especially in harsh weather conditions.
As someone who did the yatra last year, I can say the langar services were decent but there's always room for improvement. Glad to see the FDA teams being deployed. Keep up the good work, J&K administration! 🚩
The dedication of langar organisations is truly inspiring. Thousands of volunteers serve food selflessly for 57 days. Government's job is to ensure that food is safe and not contaminated - especially important because many pilgrims are elderly. Good initiative!
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