Jammu, July 2: The annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra began with the first batch of pilgrims leaving Jammu for the twin base camps at Baltal and Pahalgam under tight security arrangements.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the yatra from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu and conveyed his best wishes to the devotees. He said all necessary arrangements, including security, healthcare, sanitation, accommodation, and other essential services, have been put in place to ensure a safe, smooth, and hassle-free pilgrimage.
According to official figures, a total of 4,822 pilgrims departed from Jammu in a convoy of 259 vehicles. Of them, 2,510 pilgrims chose the traditional Pahalgam route, while 2,312 opted for the shorter Baltal route.
The first batch comprises 3,707 men, 816 women, 16 children, 246 sadhus, and 37 sadhvis. The convoy includes 106 buses, 39 medium motor vehicles , 111 light motor vehicles, and three two-wheelers.
Officials said the Baltal-bound convoy left Bhagwati Nagar at 6:10 a.m., followed by the Pahalgam-bound convoy at 6:35 a.m. Both convoys were escorted by security personnel under multi-layered security arrangements.
