More than 8,600 leave Jammu in 6th batch
Jammu: In a remarkable show of devotion and resilience, the annual Amarnath Yatra continues in full swing with nearly 24,000 pilgrims offering prayers at the holy Amarnath cave shrine on Monday alone, pushing the total number of devotees visiting the sacred site to 93,341 in just five days since the pilgrimage began on July 3, officials said.
On Monday, 23,800 pilgrims, including 17,000 men, 4,000 women, several hundred security forces personnel, and dozens of Sadhus and Sadhvis, reached the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine located in the south Kashmir Himalayas. The footfall highlights the immense religious fervor associated with this 38-day long spiritual journey.
Meanwhile, in Jammu, over 8,600 pilgrims embarked from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in the sixth batch of the Yatra amid tight multi-tier security arrangements. This was the largest batch so far since the pilgrimage began, officials confirmed.
According to reports, the sixth batch comprised 8,605 pilgrims — including 6,486 men, 1,826 women, 42 children, and 251 sadhus and sadhvis. The pilgrims were transported in 372 vehicles, starting between 3:30 AM and 4:25 AM, and headed towards the twin base camps in Kashmir — Pahalgam (Anantnag district) and Baltal (Ganderbal district).
The first convoy, with 3,486 pilgrims in 166 vehicles, took the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route.
The second convoy, carrying 5,119 pilgrims in 206 vehicles, opted for the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route.
So far, 40,361 pilgrims have departed the Jammu base camp for the valley since the Yatra was flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on July 2.
Despite the shadow of the tragic terrorist attack in Pahalgam on April 22 that claimed 26 lives, the spirit of the pilgrims remains unshaken. Devotees, chanting “Bum Bum Bhole” and “Har Har Mahadev,” expressed their determination to seek blessings at the naturally formed ice Shivlingam and conveyed a strong message that terrorism and threats will not deter faith.
“We have no fear. We are here to pray for peace and for an end to terrorism in Kashmir,” said several pilgrims.
The security apparatus has been significantly bolstered this year. According to a senior police official, 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) have been deployed across the Jammu division — 30 more than in previous years. To cater to the growing number of devotees over 3.5 lakh people have registered for the Yatra online so far. Twelve counters have been established for on-the-spot registration, with authorities increasing the quota and counters to manage the rush. Over 3,000 pilgrims arrived in Jammu on Sunday alone for registration.
Additionally, the Jammu administration has arranged for boarding and lodging facilities for over 50,000 people across 106 lodgement centres from Lakhanpur to Banihal. Thirty-four accommodation centres have been specifically set up in Jammu.
To enhance safety, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags are being issued to pilgrims for tracking and management during the Yatra.
As the pilgrimage progresses, the seamless coordination between administration, security agencies, and religious bodies continues to ensure a safe and spiritually fulfilling journey for lakhs of devotees from across the country.
