Jammu Tawi, July 8 : Northern Railway has strengthened security and passenger amenities at the Jammu railway station to facilitate the smooth movement of pilgrims during the ongoing Amarnath Yatra, officials said on Wednesday.
Officials of the Jammu division said that elaborate arrangements have been put in place to ensure the safety, convenience and comfort of pilgrims reaching the base city from different parts of the country.
Senior railway officers and supervisors are monitoring the arrangements round the clock, while personnel from the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and the Government Railway Police (GRP) have been deployed across the station premises, they said.
The Jammu railway station is under 24-hour CCTV surveillance through a central control room, while ticket-checking staff are conducting regular patrols along with the RPF and GRP personnel to prevent any untoward incident.
Railway authorities have also established help desks and information centres to assist pilgrims with travel-related queries. Additional drinking water facilities, sanitation staff and a round-the-clock first aid centre have been put in place, while regular public announcements are being made regarding train operations and the yatra.
Passengers are also being informed about any train delays through the public announcement system and SMS alerts, the officials said.
Senior Divisional Commercial Manager, Jammu, Uchit Singhal has been personally reviewing the arrangements and issuing directions to ensure better passenger services.
“Amarnath Yatra is a symbol of faith and devotion. It is our commitment to ensure that every pilgrim completes the journey safely and with dignity. Our officers, supervisors, RPF and GRP teams are working round the clock, and additional arrangements will be made whenever required,” Singhal said.
The Jammu division appealed to the passengers to follow railway announcements and contact the Rail Madad helpline (139) or the station help centre for any assistance.
The 57-day Amarnath Yatra, which began on July 3, will conclude on August 28, coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan.
Yatra witnesses 28 pc surge in pilgrims
Jammu Tawi, Jul 8: The annual Amarnath Yatra is witnessing a huge surge in pilgrim turnout this year, with the number of devotees performing darshan in the first six days increasing by around 28 per cent compared to the previous year.
Official figures revealed that 1,42,861 pilgrims had performed darshan till 7:00 PM on Wednesday, against 1,11,975 during the first six days of the pilgrimage in 2025, which is an increase of 30,886 pilgrims, or around 28 per cent.
On Wednesday alone, 29,047 devotees paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine, including 18,362 men, 9,737 women, 404 children, 181 sadhus, 13 sadhvis, 11 transgender devotees and 339 security personnel.
Meanwhile, the pilgrimage also witnessed its largest-ever single-day departure from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu, with 9,837 pilgrims leaving in the seventh batch for the twin base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal.
Officials said that the batch departed in a convoy of 361 vehicles, including 188 vehicles carrying 5,337 pilgrims via the traditional Pahalgam route and 173 vehicles carrying 4,500 pilgrims via the Baltal route.
The batch comprised 6,684 men, 2,730 women, 21 children, 320 sadhus, 80 sadhvis and two transgender devotees.
A heavy rush of pilgrims was witnessed at the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas from the early hours of the day as devotees from different parts of the country assembled for the annual pilgrimage.
Amarnath ice Shivling shrinks significantly; devotees rush for early darshan
The naturally formed ice Shivling inside the holy Amarnath cave shrine has reduced noticeably compared to its size at the beginning of the Yatra. The development has led to a surge in the number of devotees keen to reach the cave shrine as early as possible.
The 57-day Yatra, which commenced on July 3, is being conducted under a multi-layered security arrangement with extensive logistical support from the administration, police, CAPFs, health services and other departments. The pilgrimage will conclude on August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
