Umaisar Gull Ganie
Srinagar, Jul 12: As the annual Amarnath Yatra continues smoothly amid tight security and favourable weather, a total of 19,020 pilgrims performed the holy darshan at the sacred cave shrine on Saturday, taking the cumulative figure to 1,82,746, officials said.
According to the figures accessed by the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), Saturday’s darshan count included 13,980 males, 4,272 females, 225 children, 103 sadhus, 20 sadhvis, and 420 personnel from security forces.
The pilgrimage entered its tenth day on Saturday and continues to witness a huge influx of devotees from across the country. Officials said the yatra is progressing smoothly, with all necessary arrangements in place to ensure the safety and comfort of the pilgrims.
“Given the current trend, the cumulative pilgrim count is expected to cross the two lakh mark by Sunday. This year, the yatra has not been halted due to rains or any other reason,” an official told KNO.
Authorities have also deployed additional teams for medical aid, sanitation, and route clearance, especially in light of recent weather fluctuations along the Pahalgam and Baltal routes.
Ambika Soni, a devotee from Jaipur, expressed her deep satisfaction with the ongoing arrangements for the Amarnath Yatra.
“The government has made very good arrangements this year. Everything from security to basic facilities like food and medical support is well-managed. It feels safe and spiritually uplifting to be part of this sacred journey. I will offer prayers at the holy cave for peace, prosperity, and happiness for everyone,” she said.
Another devotee, Nilesh Upadhyay, who is undertaking the pilgrimage, said that he had come for the 13th time.
“I have come here for the 13th time, and I must say the arrangements have continuously improved over the years. There is a sense of peace and divine energy all around. The yatris are being taken care of at every step of the way. The environment is calm, the people are cooperative, and the security forces are doing a commendable job,” he said.
Meanwhile, the 11th batch of 6,639 pilgrims set out from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Saturday morning to undertake the sacred journey to the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir.
The group included 1,462 women, 41 children, and 181 sadhus and sadhvis. As per officials, the pilgrims left in two separate convoys amid tight security arrangements, heading towards the twin base camps of Nunwan in Pahalgam and Baltal in Ganderbal district.
Out of the total, 4,302 pilgrims opted for the traditional Pahalgam route, travelling in 159 vehicles, while 2,337 pilgrims preferred the Baltal route and were accommodated in 116 vehicles.
The 32-day yatra, which commenced on July 3, is scheduled to conclude on August 9—(KNO)
