The annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra continued to witness an overwhelming response from devotees, with more than 2.54 lakh pilgrims having paid obeisance at the sacred cave shrine, situated at an altitude of 3,880 metres in the Himalayas.
The 12th batch undertaking the pilgrimage left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu during the early hours of Monday under multi-layered security arrangements. A total of 7,754 pilgrims departed in 303 vehicles, proceeding towards the twin base camps of Baltal in Ganderbal district and Pahalgam in Anantnag district.
According to details, 2,896 pilgrims travelled via the Baltal axis, while 4,858 pilgrims proceeded through the Pahalgam route. The Baltal convoy departed early, followed by the Pahalgam convoy, with security escorts, ambulances, and emergency support vehicles deployed to ensure the safe movement of pilgrims.
The batch comprised 5,383 male pilgrims, 2,071 female pilgrims, 16 children, 222 sadhus, 58 sadhvis, and four transgender pilgrims. No foreign pilgrims were part of the convoy.
Officials said elaborate security arrangements, traffic regulation, medical facilities, and emergency response mechanisms have been put in place along both routes to facilitate the smooth and secure conduct of the pilgrimage.
The Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra has been progressing peacefully, with the Jammu and Kashmir administration, Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board, police, CRPF, and other security agencies working in close coordination to ensure a safe, seamless, and hassle-free pilgrimage for devotees from across the country.
