Jammu: Early morning Wednesday, July 17,  saw a new batch of 3,700 pilgrims embarking on their journey to the Amarnath cave shrine in the South Kashmir Himalayas. This marks the 20th batch to undertake the pilgrimage, with security arrangements tightly in place.

Departing from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp under CRPF escort at 3:05 am, the convoy comprised 127 vehicles. The group included 2,734 men, 952 women, and nine children. Notably, 2,305 pilgrims opted for the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route, while 1,435 chose the shorter yet steeper 14-km Baltal route.

The pilgrimage, spanning 52 days, began formally on June 29 from the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps and will conclude on August 19. So far, more than 340,000 pilgrims have paid their respects at the shrine.

Security measures have been significantly heightened around the base camps and along the pilgrimage routes following recent terror incidents. This includes an ambush in the Dessa area of Doda district, resulting in the tragic loss of four security personnel.

Authorities have implemented comprehensive arrangements such as three-tier security, strategic route deployments, and checkpoints to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage experience.

This year's Amarnath Yatra has been conducted amidst a notable rise in terrorist activities across the region. Recent incidents include attacks in Jammu, an army convoy in Kathua, and encounters in Doda and Udhampur.

In response, unprecedented security measures, including electronic surveillance and strict access control, have been implemented.

To ensure the safety of pilgrims, the state traffic police issued an advisory on July 6 regarding National Highway 44. The advisory includes specific timings for convoy movements and clear instructions for non-convoy traffic.

The Amarnath Yatra, which began on June 29 and spans 52 days until August 19, sees devotees of Lord Shiva undertake the challenging pilgrimage to the sacred cave nestled in the Kashmir Himalayas.

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