The base camp is experiencing a significant influx of devotees. Reports indicate that over 350,000 yatris have registered for this year’s yatra.
Amid tight security measures, the first group of Amarnath pilgrims will depart from Jammu to the twin base camps in Kashmir on Friday, signaling the start of this year’s pilgrimage.
More than 2,000 pilgrims have already arrived at the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu, from where they will depart in escorted convoys to the base camps in north Kashmir’s Baltal and south Kashmir’s Anantnag. Officials stated that over 3,000 tokens have been distributed to devotees in the first batch traveling to the twin base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal in the Kashmir valley.
The base camp is experiencing a significant influx of devotees. Reports indicate that over 350,000 yatris have registered for this year’s yatra. Along the two routes to the cave shrine, 125 community kitchens (langars) have been set up, supported by over 6,000 volunteers.
The 52-day pilgrimage will begin on June 29, using two routes: the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam path in Anantnag and the 14-km shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal. The yatra will conclude on August 19.
A senior officer informed PTI that the first batch of the yatra would leave the Jammu base camp at Bhagwati Nagar for Kashmir at 4:00 AM on Friday. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha will flag off the yatra from Yatri Niwas amid heightened security arrangements.
From June 28 to August 19, traffic restrictions will be imposed on various routes, with daily advisories issued to minimize inconvenience. Cut-off timings have been established for each highway sector, monitored through CCTV surveillance.
On Thursday, the administration began on-the-spot registration for devotees arriving for the pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave shrine. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), reviewed security and other arrangements in a high-level meeting and made visits to various base camps in Jammu and Kashmir.
Comprehensive arrangements, including three-tier security, area dominations, extensive route deployment, and checkpoints, have been established to ensure a smooth yatra.