Over 4.14 Lakh Pilgrims Complete Amarnath Yatra, LG Felicitates Stakeholders

SRINAGAR: Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday felicitated officers of the Amarnath Shrine Board, civil and police administration, Army, Central Armed Police Forces, Border Roads Organisation, service providers, medical professionals, NGOs, and other stakeholders for the successful conduct of the Amarnath Yatra-2025.

Speaking at the Raj Bhawan Auditorium, the LG congratulated the people of Jammu and Kashmir for making the annual pilgrimage a “rich spiritual experience” for devotees, noting that over 4.14 lakh pilgrims from across India and abroad paid obeisance at the holy cave. He called their enthusiasm and devotion “a befitting reply to the enemy’s design of destabilising peace” in the Union Territory.

Sinha praised the coordinated efforts of all agencies, including security forces, sanitation workers, pony and palanquin operators, disaster response teams, and the media, in ensuring a safe, smooth and spiritually enriching Yatra. “Every pilgrim is now a brand ambassador for Jammu Kashmir,” he said, urging officials to apply lessons learnt this year to further improve arrangements in the future.

This year’s pilgrimage saw significant infrastructure and safety upgrades. Two 100-bed base camp hospitals, 1,222 medical professionals, over 90 medical facilities, and 26 oxygen booths were deployed, with 45 ambulances — nine equipped for critical care — on standby. Safety measures included emergency communication systems at seven points, real-time health screening, and RFID-based tracking for all registered pilgrims and service providers.

Environmental protection was prioritised through a zero-landfill approach, 7,000 installed toilets, and 6,500 Swachhagrahis. Track improvements widened most routes to 12 feet, with new safety railings and regular maintenance. Continuous electricity, underground optical fibre cables, wireless intranet, PTZ cameras, and live-feed route monitoring enhanced security and connectivity.

The LG also paid homage to civilians killed in the recent terror attack in Pahalgam, warning that Pakistan would “pay a very heavy price” for any bloodshed in the region.

Senior civil, police, Army and SASB officials, including Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo and DGP Nalin Prabhat, attended the ceremony.