A fresh batch of 1,112 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu at 3:25 am on Sunday, travelling in two escorted convoys, even as news was received of the Baltal base camp being cut off due to a cloudburst at Gandarbal damaging roads.
“The first convoy of 11 vehicles, carrying 204 pilgrims, headed to the Baltal base camp in North Kashmir, while the second convoy of 39 vehicles, with 908 pilgrims, went to the Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp in South Kashmir,” said SASB officials.
The Amarnath cave shrine, located at an altitude of 3,888 meters in the Kashmir Himalayas, can be reached via two main routes: the traditional South Kashmir Pahalgam route and the North Kashmir Baltal route.
The Pahalgam-Cave route spans 48 kilometres and typically takes yatris four to five days to complete. In contrast, the Baltal-Cave route is 14 kilometres long and can be completed in a single day.
For those seeking a quicker journey, helicopter services are available from both Baltal and Chandanwari on the South Kashmir route.
This year's Yatra, which began on July 1, will conclude after 52 days on August 19, coinciding with the Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals.
To ensure the smooth conduct of the Yatra, the administration has established extensive arrangements: A multi-layered security apparatus involving paramilitary forces, CRPF personnel, and local police ensures pilgrims travel in escorted convoys with multiple security checks.
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