Under tight security, the sixth batch of 8,605 pilgrims embarked on their journey from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu to the Amarnath shrine in the Himalayas. This yatra, a significant annual pilgrimage for Hindus, has already seen over 70,000 devotees pay their respects at the holy cave, situated at an altitude of 3,880 meters, since it commenced on July 3.
The sixth batch comprised 6,486 men, 1,826 women, 42 children, and 251 sadhus and sadhvis, who departed in 372 vehicles early Monday morning. The convoy was divided into two groups. The first, consisting of 3,486 pilgrims in 166 vehicles, headed for the Baltal route, which is a shorter but steeper 14-kilometer trek in the Ganderbal district. The second convoy, carrying 5,119 pilgrims in 206 vehicles, took the traditional 48-kilometer Pahalgam route in the Anantnag district.
Officials noted that this was the largest group of pilgrims to leave for the valley since Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the yatra in Jammu on July 2. With this latest batch, a total of 40,361 pilgrims have now departed from the Jammu base camp for the Amarnath shrine. The pilgrimage is scheduled to last 38 days, concluding on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals.
The Amarnath Yatra is proceeding smoothly along both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes amidst tight security. Security measures include facial-recognition systems and the designation of yatra routes as no-fly zones. A senior police officer reported the deployment of 180 companies of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) for the Yatra's security in the Jammu division, which is 30 more than in previous years.
Authorities have also increased the number of on-the-spot registration counters and the daily quota to manage the heavy rush of pilgrims. Over 3,000 devotees have arrived in Jammu from various parts of the country to register for the yatra. More than 350,000 devotees have registered online for the pilgrimage. The administration has established 34 accommodation centers across Jammu and is issuing RFID tags to pilgrims. Boarding and lodging arrangements have been made for over 50,000 pilgrims at various lodgement centers across the Jammu region.
Despite a past terrorist attack, the pilgrims remain undeterred, expressing their faith and praying for the end of terrorism as they embark on the pilgrimage to seek blessings of Lord Shiva at the natural ice lingam in the cave shrine. The enthusiastic pilgrims departed from Jammu with religious fervor, chanting "Bum Bum Bhole" and "Har Har Mahadev".
The Amarnath Yatra 2025 has seen a strong turnout, with nearly 70,000 devotees completing the pilgrimage in the first four days. On Monday, the Yatra recorded its highest single-day turnout, with 23,857 pilgrims visiting the holy cave, bringing the cumulative total to 93,336 in the first five days. If weather conditions remain favorable, the total number of pilgrims is expected to cross the one-lakh mark soon.
