85000 Registrations Confirmed for Amarnath Yatra 2025, Tight Security in Place

SRINAGAR: The annual Amarnath Yatra is set to begin on July 3, with the first batch of pilgrims scheduled to depart from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu under heavy security deployment and tightened administrative protocols. The pilgrimage will conclude on August 9.

Over 3.5 lakh pilgrims have registered so far to undertake the journey to the Amarnath Shrine. However, officials have confirmed that only 85,000 registrations have been reconfirmed following the April 22 Pahalgam massacre, which killed 25 tourists and one local. Last year, the yatra had witnessed over 5.1 lakh pilgrims, the highest in over a decade.

In a high-level review held on Sunday, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who also chairs the Amarnath Shrine Board, visited Nunwan Base Camp in Pahalgam and later reviewed healthcare arrangements at Chandanwari. He said, “All arrangements, including security, medical, accommodation, and transport, are in place to ensure a safe and smooth Yatra.” He also inaugurated a new foot overbridge at the base camp to streamline security checks and reduce congestion.

The Amarnath Shrine Board has implemented mandatory RFID tracking, compulsory health certification (CHC), and has restricted movement to escorted convoys only. Solo travel and private vehicle access to the shrine have been disallowed.

In total, 580 companies of security personnel, including the Indian Army, CRPF, J&K Police, and disaster response teams, have been deployed across the Jammu and Kashmir region. Drone surveillance, CCTV monitoring, and multi-layered checkpoints have been established from Lakhanpur to Baltal and Pahalgam, the two primary access routes.

Meanwhile, the Traffic Police Headquarters in Jammu and Kashmir has issued a detailed advisory for all yatra and tourist vehicles, specifying strict cut-off timings for movement between Jammu and the Kashmir Valley. Pilgrim convoys must cross designated points such as the NAVYUG Tunnel, Banihal, and Mir Bazar within allotted hours, failing which they will be halted and directed to the nearest designated camp. Pilgrim and tourist movement is restricted strictly between 7:00 AM and 6:00 PM, and no post-deadline travel will be permitted.

Helpline numbers for the yatra have been released by the police, and dedicated traffic control units have been stationed at Jammu, Srinagar, Ramban, and Udhampur.

In preparation for potential natural calamities, especially landslides, a mock disaster drill was conducted on Sunday by combined forces at Samroli, Toldi Nallah along the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway. The exercise simulated rescue operations and medical evacuation, with emphasis on inter-agency coordination. Deputy SP Prehlad Kumar said such drills are crucial for “readiness and response efficiency.”

DGP Nalin Prabhat also held a comprehensive security review in Udhampur ahead of the yatra’s commencement, focusing on deployment, emergency preparedness, and inter-agency coordination.

Facilities along the yatra route include health camps, oxygen booths, langar services, and helicopter evacuation options across all key locations: Nunwan, Baltal, Panchtarni, and Chandanwari.