JAMMU, July 4: A third batch of 6,411 pilgrims began their journey from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu early Friday morning to participate in the annual Amarnath Yatra, officials said.
The pilgrims — including 4,723 men, 1,071 women, 37 children, and 580 sadhus and sadhvis — departed in two convoys comprising 291 vehicles. Escorted by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the groups left for the twin routes of Baltal and Pahalgam at 3:15 a.m. and 4:00 a.m.
Of the latest batch, 3,622 pilgrims took the 48-kilometre traditional Pahalgam route in 138 vehicles, while 2,789 pilgrims were ferried via the shorter 14-kilometre Baltal route in 153 vehicles.
Since Wednesday, when the 38-day pilgrimage was flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, a total of 17,549 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp for the cave shrine, located 3,880 metres high in the Kashmir Himalayas.
Despite heightened security concerns following the April 22 terror attack in Pahalgam that claimed 26 lives, the pilgrimage continues without interruption under a multi-layered security setup at the base camp.
Approximately 14,000 pilgrims have already offered prayers at the cave shrine since the yatra commenced Thursday from the two traditional tracks in Anantnag and Ganderbal districts.
To support the influx, 34 accommodation centres have been set up across Jammu. More than 3.5 lakh devotees have registered online for the yatra, while RFID tags are being issued to track pilgrims. Additionally, 12 counters are operating for on-the-spot registration.
