Amarnath Yatra Nears Landmark as Pilgrim Count Set to Cross 4 Lakh

SRINAGAR: The ongoing Amarnath Yatra is on the verge of surpassing the milestone of four lakh pilgrims, with official figures indicating that 3,93,401 devotees have visited the sacred cave shrine as of Tuesday.

On Tuesday, 7,203 pilgrims offered prayers at the revered site, amid heightened security and a spiritually charged atmosphere. The day’s turnout included 5,025 men, 1,352 women, 109 children, 47 sadhus, one sadhvi, one transgender pilgrim, and 668 security personnel.

Despite inclement weather challenges in the higher altitudes, the pilgrimage has continued smoothly. “We expect the total number to cross 4 lakh tomorrow if the trend continues,” an official said.

Meanwhile, the 27th batch of 1,490 pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Monday morning, successfully reaching the twin base camps in Kashmir.

The convoy was split into two groups and traveled under tight security, escorted by personnel from the CRPF and Jammu and Kashmir Police. Of the total, 1,262 were men and 186 were women, accompanied by 42 sadhus and sadhvis. They traveled in 61 vehicles, including 35 buses, seven medium motor vehicles (MMVs), 18 light motor vehicles (LMVs), and one two-wheeler.

The group was divided between the two main Yatra routes. A total of 327 pilgrims headed toward the Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district via the shorter but more challenging 14-kilometer route, while 1,163 pilgrims took the traditional 48-kilometer Pahalgam route in Anantnag district.

The annual Amarnath Yatra, which began on July 3, is scheduled to conclude on August 9. So far, it has witnessed steady participation from devotees across India, with authorities ensuring round-the-clock security and logistical support to facilitate the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage. (KNO)