Overall tally crosses 2.27 lakh; 10th batch of 9,182 pilgrims arrives in Kashmir
Srinagar, Jul 11: Unfavourable weather conditions failed to dampen the enthusiasm of devotees as the annual Amarnath Yatra continued smoothly on Saturday, with 26,403 pilgrims paying obeisance at the holy cave shrine, taking the cumulative pilgrim count to 2,27,411.
According to figures available with the news agency, the pilgrims who performed darshan on Saturday included 18,209 men, 7,434 women, 255 children, 155 sadhus, 12 sadhvis, 11 transgender devotees, and 327 security personnel.
Despite intermittent rain and changing weather conditions along both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes, the pilgrimage continued without any disruption as thousands of devotees trekked towards the holy cave shrine with unwavering faith.
“The weather does not matter when you have faith. We have come here with devotion, and despite the rain and difficult conditions, our enthusiasm remains the same. We are grateful to the administration for making the journey safe and smooth,” said a pilgrim from Delhi.
Meanwhile, the 10th batch of pilgrims undertaking the Yatra left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu during the early hours of Saturday under elaborate security arrangements.
Officials said 9,182 pilgrims departed for the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam in a convoy of 333 vehicles.
According to official figures, the Baltal-bound convoy, carrying 3,305 pilgrims, left Jammu at 2:43 a.m., while the Pahalgam-bound convoy, comprising 5,877 pilgrims, departed at 3:31 a.m.
The batch included 6,455 men, 2,389 women, 31 children, 256 sadhus, 46 sadhvis, and five transgender pilgrims. No foreign pilgrim was part of the 10th batch.
Officials said the pilgrims were travelling in 196 buses, 43 medium motor vehicles (MMVs), 91 light motor vehicles (LMVs), and three two-wheelers.
Authorities said the weather situation was being closely monitored, and all necessary measures had been put in place to ensure the safety, security, and convenience of the pilgrims throughout the ongoing pilgrimage—(KNO)
OGW held at Amarnath base camp
Anantnag, July 11: In a major security success during the ongoing Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, Anantnag Police on Saturday detained an alleged Over Ground Worker (OGW) after the Facial Recognition System (FRS) generated a real-time alert at the X-Ray Point of Nunwan Base Camp.
According to police, the detained individual has been identified as Mohd Iqbal Wani, son of Ali Mohd Wani, a resident of Hajin in Bandipora district. Acting promptly on the alert generated by the Facial Recognition System, police personnel intercepted the suspect and carried out verification, during which he was confirmed to be an OGW.
The individual has been taken into custody for further legal proceedings and detailed investigation.
Police said the successful interception demonstrates the effectiveness of the advanced surveillance technology deployed as part of the multi-layered security arrangements for the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. The Facial Recognition System has significantly enhanced real-time monitoring, strengthened access control, and enabled security agencies to respond swiftly to potential threats.
Anantnag Police reiterated its commitment to ensuring the safety and security of pilgrims by leveraging modern technology and maintaining a robust security grid throughout the Yatra, with the aim of facilitating a peaceful, secure, and incident-free pilgrimage for all devotees. (KNC)
