Wani Majid
The annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra formally began on Thursday as Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first convoy of pilgrims from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu, with large numbers of devotees subsequently entering the Kashmir Valley amid tight security and enthusiastic local welcome.A convoy of 259 vehicles carrying 4,822 pilgrims departed Jammu on Thursday morning for the twin base camps at Baltal and Pahalgam. Of those, 2,510 pilgrims are travelling via the traditional Pahalgam route and 2,312 via the shorter Baltal track. The contingent included 3,707 men, 816 women, 16 children, 246 sadhus and 37 sadhvis, travelling in 106 buses, 39 medium motor vehicles, 111 light motor vehicles and three two‑wheelers.As the yatris entered the valley, jubilant scenes greeted them at the Baltal base camp, where devotees raised slogans of “Bam‑Bam” and locals welcomed pilgrims with open arms. The first batch from Jammu saw about 5,000 devotees, while a larger crowd had already gathered at Baltal for on‑spot registrations. Many pilgrims who could not complete online registration arrived early to secure a place with the hope of joining the first departures for the holy cave.Organisers said pilgrims who had pre‑booked for July 3 received RFID ID cards without difficulty and were visibly satisfied and ready for the next day’s onward journey. On‑spot registration counters remain available at Pantha Chowk and both base camps subject to daily quota availability.Food and basic services at Baltal have been ramped up large langars have been set up across the base camp to feed pilgrims and local volunteers alike, and devotees were seen offering prayers, singing and dancing in devotional fervour. Local volunteers serving langars expressed happiness at being part of the preparations.Officials emphasised preparedness for weather and terrain challenges. Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg, after reviewing arrangements at Nowgam Railway Station, said nearly 400,000 pilgrims have registered online surpassing last year’s figure and the 57‑day Yatra, which runs from July 3 to August 28, is expected to see increased footfall.Garg said the India Meteorological Department now issues weather advisories every three hours, and these advisories are displayed at Baltal and Nunwan to help pilgrims plan. Rain shelters have been installed along both routes and mountain rescue teams from SDRF, NDRF and other forces have been deployed at designated points with clearly defined jurisdictions for rapid response to weather‑related emergencies.To streamline arrivals, e‑KYC and RFID issuance facilities have been set up at Nowgam Railway Station, Srinagar Airport, Pantha Chowk and both base camps; online‑registered pilgrims will receive RFID cards on priority. The convoy system from Jammu will continue under a dedicated security corridor with notified traffic cut‑off timings to ensure orderly movement.Officials also noted extensive use of surveillance and technology at Baltal, including CCTV and drone cameras, and reinforced security around the valley’s surrounding hills to guard against any untoward incident.With devotional fervour high and logistical arrangements in place, officials said they are focused on maintaining smooth operations across the pilgrimage period and ensuring safety for the large number of yatris expected to visit the cave shrine this season.
