Amarnath Yatra Creates History, Crosses 3 Lakh Pilgrims in Record 12 Days

The ongoing annual Shri Amarnath Yatra has achieved a historic milestone today as more than three lakh pilgrims paid their obeisance at the holy cave shrine in just 12 days—the fastest ever to reach the landmark since the commencement of the annual pilgrimage.

This is the first time that the annual pilgrimage of Amarnath Yatra has crossed the three lakh mark within the first 12 days of the pilgrimage, underscoring the unprecedented enthusiasm among devotees and the extensive administrative, logistical, and security arrangements put in place for the annual pilgrimage.

The 58-day pilgrimage started on July 3, when the first batch of pilgrims was flagged off for the twin routes leading to the cave shrine via the traditional Pahalgam route in south Kashmir's Anantnag district and the shorter Baltal route in central Kashmir's Ganderbal district. The Yatra will conclude on August 28, coinciding with the auspicious occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha hailed the achievement as a historic milestone and congratulated all those involved in ensuring the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.

The Lieutenant Governor commended officials, security forces, service providers, and volunteers associated with the yatra for their dedication, tireless efforts, and excellent coordination. He said their commitment had ensured a safe, smooth, and memorable pilgrimage for every devotee of Baba Barfani.

"Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra has set a historic new record, crossing the 3 lakh mark in just 12 days. I commend all the officials, service providers and volunteers. Their dedication and hard work have made this holy pilgrimage smooth and memorable for every devotee of Baba Barfani. Har Har Mahadev", the Lieutenant Governor posted on X.

Officials attributed the record-breaking turnout to seamless coordination among the civil administration, security agencies, the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), healthcare teams, disaster response personnel, and thousands of volunteers who have been working round the clock to facilitate the pilgrimage.

The administration has made elaborate arrangements, including multi-tier security, RFID-based tracking of pilgrims, medical facilities, weather monitoring, sanitation services, and traffic management, to ensure a safe and hassle-free pilgrimage.

Despite intermittent rainfall and challenging weather conditions in the Himalayan region, the yatra has continued smoothly, with lakhs of devotees from across the country undertaking the spiritual journey to seek the blessings of Baba Barfani.

The record-breaking footfall is being seen as a testament to the unwavering faith of devotees as well as the improved infrastructure, logistics, and security arrangements that have contributed to the successful conduct of this year's pilgrimage.

The Jammu and Kashmir Police's mountain rescue teams have remained deployed round the clock along the entire yatra route to ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the pilgrimage. The teams have been providing timely medical assistance, oxygen support, and emergency rescue services to pilgrims.

According to officials, the yatra continued peacefully amid favourable weather conditions. Mountain rescue teams stationed at key locations continuously monitored the route, assisted pilgrims in distress, and carried out rescue and relief operations whenever required.

Several pilgrims experiencing breathing difficulties and other altitude-related health issues were administered oxygen therapy during the pilgrimage. In a number of medical emergencies, police teams responded promptly and evacuated pilgrims safely to nearby health centres, where they received appropriate treatment.

Police said the prompt response and dedicated services of the mountain rescue teams have played a crucial role in ensuring the safety and well-being of pilgrims undertaking the Shri Amarnath Yatra.

Meanwhile, the 13th batch of 5,335 pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas base camp in Jammu for the twin base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal on Tuesday morning and reached their respective destinations by evening.