No fresh batch flagged off from Jammu

Jammu, Aug 10: In wake of dwindling number of yatris opting to embark on pilgrimage to Shri Amarnath cave shrine in South Kashmir from Jammu, no batch was flagged off from Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar on Saturday.

“There was no registration of pilgrims for the Yatra from Jammu. Hence, no new batch was flagged off today,” officials said.

Annual pilgrimage, which formally began on June 29, will culminate on August 19, 2024.

First batch from Jammu base camp – Yatri Niwas was flagged off by the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on June 28, 2024.

Prior to it, on August 5, yatra remained suspended on the fifth anniversary of Article 370 abrogation on account of security concerns. Yatra resumed the next day i.e., August 6, from Baltal axis only.

Earlier this week, Yatra had crossed 5 lakh mark, thus registering the highest footfall in 12 years.

On August 9, 42nd batch of 398 pilgrims, comprising 340 males, 45 females, 4 children and 9 Sadhus in 14 vehicles while on August 8, 574 pilgrims, including 477 males, 76 females and 21 Sadhus in 17 vehicles, embarked on pilgrimage through Baltal axis from Jammu base camp.

On August 6, the yatra through Pahalgam axis was suspended to carry out repairs on the route following damages in recent rainfall.

On August 7, 40th batch of 635 pilgrims, including 508 males, 98 females, 25 Sadhus and 4 Sadhvis left Yatri Niwas in Jammu for holy cave shrine from Baltal route in 22 vehicles while on August 6, 39th batch of 1873 pilgrims, comprising 1579 males, 202 females, 65 Sadhus and 27 Sadhvis embarked on yatra through Baltal axis in 69 vehicles.

Earlier, from Jammu, 1112 pilgrims, as part of 38th batch, on August 4; 991 yatris on August 3; 1221 pilgrims as part of 36th batch on August 2; 1295 pilgrims on August 1; 1654 yatris, as part of 34th batch, on July 31; 1477 pilgrims on July 30; 1832 yatris on July 29; 1677 pilgrims on July 28 and on July 27, 30th batch of 1771 pilgrims had embarked on pilgrimage through twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal.