The annual Amarnath Yatra continues to witness a massive influx of devotees, with 28,818 pilgrims offering prayers at the holy cave shrine on the fourth day of the pilgrimage (Monday). With this, the cumulative number of devotees who have undertaken the sacred pilgrimage since it began on July 3 has reached 85,779, according to official figures.
Officials said the day’s pilgrims included 20,420 men, 7,554 women, 243 children, 249 sadhus, 32 sadhvis, nine transgender devotees, and 311 security personnel. Given the steady rush of pilgrims, authorities expect the cumulative footfall to cross the one-lakh mark on Tuesday.
Meanwhile, under elaborate security arrangements, the fifth batch of 5,794 pilgrims that departed from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in the early hours of Monday reached the twin base camps in Kashmir safely.
According to official data, 2,304 pilgrims opted for the shorter Baltal route, while 3,490 chose the traditional Pahalgam route to the holy cave shrine.
The Baltal-bound convoy left at 3:10 a.m., followed by the Pahalgam-bound convoy at 3:50 a.m., under the escort of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF, and other security agencies. The convoy consisted of 267 vehicles, including 126 buses, 32 medium motor vehicles (MMVs), 104 light motor vehicles (LMVs), and five two-wheelers.
To ensure the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage, the administration has deployed extensive security, medical, and logistical arrangements along both routes. Round-the-clock surveillance, traffic regulation, emergency medical facilities, and security personnel have been put in place to facilitate a safe and hassle-free journey for devotees.
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