Amid tight security and multi-layered protection, more than 47,000 pilgrims have offered prayers at the sacred Amarnath Cave Shrine in the first three days of the annual pilgrimage, officials said on Saturday.
According to official data, 21,109 pilgrims visited the shrine on July 5 alone. The day’s pilgrims included 16,159 males, 3,921 females, 226 children, 250 sadhus, 29 sadhvis, 3 transgender devotees, and 521 security personnel. This brings the cumulative total since the beginning of the yatra to 47,972.
Meanwhile, the fourth batch of 6,979 pilgrims left Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar base camp early Saturday under a tight security cover. The group is headed to the twin base camps—Baltal in Ganderbal and Nunwan in Pahalgam, Anantnag.
The convoy departed in 312 vehicles, including 136 buses, 70 medium motor vehicles (MMVs), and 106 light motor vehicles (LMVs). Of the departing pilgrims, 5,196 were men, 1,427 women, 24 children, 247 sadhus, 84 sadhvis, and 1 transgender devotee. Among them, 2,753 pilgrims chose the Baltal route, while 4,226 proceeded via the Pahalgam track.
Speaking on the yatra, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Friday said that devotees from across the country are arriving in Jammu and Kashmir to seek blessings of Baba Amarnath. “The people of Jammu and Kashmir are welcoming them with open hearts. The UT administration, the Government of India, and the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board have worked together to enhance facilities, ensuring a safe and spiritually enriching journey for all pilgrims,” he said.
He also advised that while arrangements have been made to accommodate early arrivals, pilgrims with prior registration will be given priority.
