Batch of 7,541 pilgrims departs from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar base camp
Srinagar: The annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra has witnessed a strong turnout in its initial phase, with over one lakh pilgrims offering prayers at the holy cave shrine in just the first six days since the pilgrimage began on July 3, according to Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
In an official post shared by the Office of the LG on social media platform X (formerly Twitter), it was stated that “The journey of faith, holy Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra has surpassed 1 lakh pilgrims within the first six days of pilgrimage.” The LG Office further noted that the Yatra is progressing smoothly along both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes, with even higher numbers expected in the coming days.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 7,541 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu early Tuesday morning under tight security cover. The pilgrims, including 5,516 men and 1,765 women, departed in 309 vehicles between 2:55 AM and 4:05 AM, heading for the twin base camps of Nunwan (Pahalgam) and Baltal (Ganderbal).
The 38-day Yatra, which was flagged off by LG Sinha on July 2, follows two primary tracks: the traditional 48-km-long Nunwan–Pahalgam route in Anantnag district, and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal. The pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on August 9.
So far, over 94,000 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the shrine, with a cumulative total of 47,902 pilgrims having departed from Jammu since the flag-off. To handle the growing demand, authorities have increased the number of on-the-spot registration counters from 12 to 15, and the daily registration quota to 4,100. On Monday alone, over 4,000 pilgrims arrived in Jammu for registration.
In preparation for the Yatra, over 3.5 lakh devotees have already registered online. The government has also established 34 accommodation centres in Jammu, with boarding and lodging capacity for over 50,000 pilgrims at more than 100 lodgement centres stretching from Lakhanpur to Banihal.
For security, 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF)—30 more than last year—have been deployed, alongside local police and civil administration, to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage experience.
Additionally, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are being issued to all pilgrims to track their movement and enhance overall security management.
With robust arrangements, tight security, and overwhelming participation from devotees across the country, this year’s Amarnath Yatra continues to proceed in an orderly and spiritually uplifting manner.
