Srinagar, July 02 (KNS): The sacred journey to the Amarnath cave shrine commenced early Wednesday morning, marking the beginning of the 38-day annual pilgrimage that holds deep spiritual significance for lakhs of devotees across India.
Jammu and Kashmir’s Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (SASB), flagged off the first batch of pilgrims from the heavily fortified Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu amid chants of “Bam Bam Bhole” and the rhythmic beat of drums.
At precisely 4:30 am, the first convoy rolled out under tight security, carrying 5,892 registered pilgrims in 310 vehicles. Of these, 3,403 are headed for the Nunwan base camp via the traditional Pahalgam route in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, while 2,489 are en route to the Baltal base camp in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. The pilgrims with over 200 sadhus and sadhvis, dressed in saffron robes, are part of the group.
Senior officials including Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar, Chief Secretary Atal Dulloo, and top brass from Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF, and Army were present during the flag-off ceremony.
Speaking at the flag-off, LG Manoj Sinha said the administration has worked tirelessly to ensure the safety and comfort of the pilgrims. “The Amarnath Yatra is not only a spiritual journey but a celebration of India's unity and cultural diversity. We have put in place all necessary arrangements for a smooth, secure, and comfortable pilgrimage,” he said.
Sinha highlighted major infrastructure upgrades this year. A newly constructed Yatri Niwas in Pantha Chowk, Srinagar, was inaugurated last week, with capacity for over 1,300 yatris. Similarly, 100-bed hospitals have been established at Chandanwari and Baltal, and the width of key trekking trails has been increased to 12 feet for safer movement of foot pilgrims.
Security has been scaled up to unprecedented levels this year. Over 50,000 paramilitary personnel from CRPF, BSF, ITBP, and Jammu and Kashmir Police have been deployed along the yatra routes.
A comprehensive, multi-layered security setup has been established involving drones, snipers, canine squads, bomb disposal units, facial recognition systems, and night vision surveillance.
Checkpoints have been set up every few kilometers from Lakhanpur to the shrine routes in Pahalgam and Baltal.
The CRPF has installed drone-jamming systems and long-range surveillance drones in Ramban, Banihal, and Anantnag, which are considered vulnerable zones.Click Here To Follow Our WhatsApp Channel
The J&K Traffic Police has issued detailed traffic advisories to facilitate smooth movement of convoys. Several city roads in Jammu and highway sections have been reserved exclusively for the pilgrimage. Helicopter services from both Pahalgam and Baltal have been suspended this year for “security and logistical” reasons.
Pilgrims have been strictly advised to move in official convoys. Private vehicles attempting solo travel along the Yatra route will not be allowed passage through vulnerable stretches.
As the yatris made their way to the base camps, locals in Lakhanpur and Jammu welcomed them with garlands, flowers, and religious hymns. “We consider pilgrims as guests of Kashmir,” said a local volunteer at Purani Mandi, where a special registration camp for sadhus is set up.
Three on-the-spot registration centers at Shalimar, Saraswati Dham, and Vaishnavi Dham in Jammu have been functioning round-the-clock. Yatris also received basic orientation on route safety, weather conditions, and health precautions.
Keeping in view the impact of climate change, disaster response teams have been stationed at glacier-prone locations. A recent glacier lake outburst simulation in Pahalgam was conducted by the J&K Disaster Management Authority with SDRF and National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams.
Landslide-prone zones like Ramban have also been monitored continuously via satellite data and on-ground sensors to issue real-time alerts.
According to SASB data, over 3.31 lakh pilgrims have registered so far through online and offline modes. Pilgrims from Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, and Gujarat top the list.
The Yatra this year will culminate on August 9, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
While the civil administration is in full swing, the Army Chief has also reviewed security readiness along both routes. Meanwhile, J&K Chief Minister Omar Abdullah visited the Baltal and Chandanwari base camps earlier this week to assess on-ground arrangements.
The administration has urged all pilgrims to avoid unnecessary travel along NH-44, adhere strictly to convoy rules, stay informed via Yatra App or radio bulletins and carry essential medicines and warm clothing
Meanwhile, the LG reiterated his appeal for public cooperation: “This yatra belongs to everyone, security forces, civil society, devotees, and the people of J&K. Together, we must ensure its success and safety,” he said.(KNS)