The 10th batch of over 7,800 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims left the Jammu base camp in the early hours of Wednesday for the twin base camps in Kashmir amid tight security arrangements, officials said.

Yatra Resumes After Temporary Suspension

The yatra resumed from the Jammu base camp on Tuesday afternoon after remaining suspended for three days in view of the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway for repairs in the Ramban section.

Significant Number of Pilgrims

A total of 1,37,353 pilgrims have visited the Amarnath shrine since July 1, the officials said.

Annual Pilgrimage Details

The 62-day annual pilgrimage to the 3,888-metre-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas commenced from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on July 1. The yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 31.

Departure of Pilgrims

A total of 7,805 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here for the Valley in a convoy of 339 vehicles around 3.15 am, the officials said. They said 4,677 pilgrims are headed for Pahalgam in a convoy of 207 vehicles, and 3,128 pilgrims left for the Baltal base camp in a convoy of 132 vehicles.

Successful Journey Despite Challenges

“We are happy that our prayers were heard by Lord Shiva who facilitated our pilgrimage to his abode,” said Sunita Devi of Assam, who was with a group of 23 people stranded in Jammu for the last seven days. Expressing happiness and appreciation that the administration reconstructed the road damaged due to floods triggered by heavy rains within hours, she said “they have fulfilled my wish of visiting Barfani Baba.”

Impacted Highway Closure

The incessant rains on Saturday and Sunday caused unprecedented damage to the highway, especially a stretch in Ramban district, forcing its closure. PTI AB.