Jammu, July 4 — The annual Amarnath Yatra continues in full swing as the third batch of 6,411 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu early Thursday morning for the Himalayan shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir.
Officials reported that the batch consisted of:
4,723 men
1,071 women
37 children
580 sadhus and sadhvis
The devotees began their journey in 291 vehicles under the supervision of security forces and state administration. The convoy moved along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, heading towards the twin base camps of Pahalgam (Anantnag district) and Baltal (Ganderbal district) — the two main routes to the cave shrine, situated at an altitude of about 3,888 metres.
The yatra, which began on June 29, will conclude on August 19 on the day of Raksha Bandhan. The holy cave shrine houses the naturally formed ice Shivling, attracting thousands of Lord Shiva devotees every year.
Security has been tightened along the entire route with multi-layered arrangements, including drone surveillance, RFID tracking for pilgrims, and deployment of thousands of security personnel from the CRPF, BSF, J&K Police, and other agencies.
Medical camps, langars (community kitchens), and resting stations have also been set up at various points along the route to assist the yatris.
So far, authorities have reported smooth movement of pilgrims, with weather conditions generally favourable. Daily convoys are being monitored closely to ensure a safe and spiritually fulfilling pilgrimage experience for all.
