Srinagar/Jammu, Jul 3: A total of 12,168 pilgrims paid obeisance at the Holy Cave Shrine on the opening day of the annual Amarnath Yatra on Friday, as the pilgrimage commenced from the twin base camps of Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam), while the second batch of 3,865 pilgrims left Jammu for Kashmir under elaborate security arrangements.
Officials said that the pilgrimage began in the early hours from both the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route and the shorter 14-km Baltal route despite intermittent rainfall.
They said pilgrims, including men, women and sadhus, started their journey towards the 3,880-metre-high Holy Cave Shrine amid chants of “Bum Bum Bhole” after being flagged off by the respective Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police from the two base camps.
According to officials, 12,168 persons performed darshan at the Holy Cave till 7:00 pm on Friday. The figure includes 9,354 male pilgrims, 2,250 female pilgrims, 219 children, 71 sadhus, nine transgender devotees and 265 security personnel.
Meanwhile, the second batch of pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in two escorted convoys.
According to official figures, 1,735 pilgrims bound for the Baltal route departed at 3:13 am, while 2,130 pilgrims heading towards the Pahalgam route left at 3:38 am, taking the total strength of the second batch to 3,865.
Officials said the batch comprised of 2,965 male pilgrims, 618 women, 230 sadhus, 48 sadhvis and four children.
The pilgrims were travelling in 201 vehicles, including 83 buses, 14 medium motor vehicles (MMVs) and 104 light motor vehicles (LMVs). Of these, 115 vehicles were part of the Baltal-bound convoy, while 86 vehicles are heading towards the Pahalgam base camp, officials said. “With the departure of the second batch on Friday, a total of 8,687 pilgrims have left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu for the Kashmir Valley over the past two days to undertake the annual Amarnath Yatra.”
Meanwhile, the Jammu and Kashmir administration issued an advisory urging devotees to undertake the pilgrimage only after completing advance registration and to strictly adhere to their allotted travel dates.
The administration said that in accordance with the directions of the Supreme Court, a daily ceiling has been fixed on the number of pilgrims permitted on the Yatra routes to ensure the safety of devotees and the smooth conduct of the annual pilgrimage.
Officials said advance registration had been made available well before the commencement of the Yatra through designated bank branches across the country and online platforms, with a majority of pilgrims already availing the facility.
The administration clarified that the Tatkal or on-the-spot registration facility has only limited slots and cannot accommodate thousands of unregistered pilgrims arriving in Jammu and Kashmir. Devotees without prior registration have been requested to wait for their allotted date and travel only as per the schedule issued by the authorities.
The advisory further noted that several registered pilgrims have been reaching Jammu and Kashmir before their scheduled travel dates. Authorities reiterated that no pilgrim would be allowed to proceed on the Yatra before the date mentioned on the registration slip.
The administration assured that every registered devotee would get an opportunity to undertake the Yatra in accordance with the prescribed procedure and the daily carrying capacity. Pilgrims have been urged to maintain discipline, cooperate with the authorities and follow all guidelines for the safe and orderly conduct of the pilgrimage.
Authorities have put in place multi-tier security arrangements, with personnel from the J&K Police, CRPF and other security agencies deployed along both routes to ensure the safe and smooth conduct of the annual pilgrimage. The 57-day pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on August 28. (KNO)
