Srinagar, Aug 06 (KNO): The annual Amarnath Yatra resumed on Thursday, with 659 pilgrims paying obeisance at the Holy Cave Shrine after the pilgrimage movement from Jammu resumed following a one-day suspension as a precautionary security measure ahead of the seventh anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370.
According to details available with the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), only 297 men, 190 women, 15 children, eight sadhus, one transgender pilgrim and 148 security personnel performed darshan during the day.
The number of pilgrims who have paid obeisance at the Holy Cave Shrine during this year's Yatra has reached 4,71,588, officials said.
Meanwhile, the Yatra resumed after remaining suspended for a day. Officials said the 28th batch of pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu at around 2:45 a.m. for the Baltal base camp under tight security arrangements.
A total of 1,801 pilgrims, including 1,347 men, 351 women, 89 sadhus and 14 sadhvis, departed for Baltal in a convoy of 74 vehicles, comprising 40 buses (37+3), 12 medium motor vehicles (MMVs), 19 light motor vehicles (LMVs) and three two-wheelers. No convoy was dispatched on the traditional Pahalgam route, which remains closed for maintenance, officials said.
The total number of pilgrims who have departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for the ongoing Yatra has reached 1,43,513.
Pertinently, the Yatra remained suspended on Wednesday due to heightened security arrangements ahead of the August 5 anniversary. However, pilgrims already stationed at the Baltal base camp were allowed to proceed to the Holy Cave Shrine for darshan as per the scheduled movement, officials added.
More than 22 lakh devotees have completed the Amarnath Yatra since 2022. According to available data, 3,65,721 pilgrims paid obeisance in 2022, 4,45,338 in 2023, a record 5,12,150 in 2024, 4,14,311 in 2025, and 4,71,588 pilgrims have performed darshan in 2026 (up to August 6). The cumulative figure from 2022 to August 6, 2026 stands at 22,09,108 pilgrims—(KNO)