Pahalgam/Baltal, July 5: More than 26,000 devotees successfully paid obeisance at the holy ice cave of Amarnath within forty-eight hours of the annual pilgrimage’s commencement on Friday. The Yatra drew thousands of participants from various parts of the country, who progressed along the dual traditional trekking routes starting from the Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam and the Baltal base camp in Sonamarg. Official logs confirmed that approximately 14,900 pilgrims visited the naturally formed ice Lingam on the opening day alone, despite experiencing partially cloudy weather conditions accompanied by occasional morning drizzles.
The security apparatus has been significantly reinforced to manage the heavy influx of visitors moving along the primary transit corridors. Administrative bodies implemented a multi-tiered security framework encompassing the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the mountain pathways, and the immediate perimeter of the cave shrine. Furthermore, a specialized security deployment is operational around the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas and the Tawi riverfront, where on-site token allocation and registration services are being managed.
“No pilgrim will be permitted to travel before their registered date,” an official administrative statement declared regarding the transit protocols. Authorities maintained that strict adherence to the pre-scheduled slots is mandatory to avoid overcrowding along the narrow mountain tracks. “Please travel only on your registered date. Pilgrims who have arrived in Jammu and Kashmir without registration are again requested to wait for their turn.”
Logistical movements continue uninterrupted as consecutive groups of devotees depart from the base areas to replace those returning from the upper shrine. A third contingent comprising over 4,800 individuals initiated their ascent early in the day, while a subsequent group of 6,712 pilgrims departed from Jammu to reinforce the base facilities.
Reports from the ground indicate that the initial batches of yatris have already commenced their descent toward the base camps after completing their religious observations. The ongoing coordination between administrative personnel, emergency services, and security forces remains vital to maintaining order during the peak phases of the seasonal journey.
