Over 7,300 Pilgrims Begin Amarnath Yatra from Jammu Base Camp

Swift Summary

• A fresh batch of 7,307 pilgrims departed the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for the annual Amarnath pilgrimage on July 10, 2025.
• This ninth batch includes 5,534 men, 1,586 women, 25 children, and 162 sadhus/sadhvis, traveling in 284 vehicles.
• Pilgrims are heading via two routes:

– Baltal route (14 km): 3,081 pilgrims in 137 vehicles.
– Pahalgam route (48 km): 4,226 pilgrims in 147 vehicles.

• Since July 2, a total of 62,788 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp under tight security following past safety concerns related to an attack in April.
• Officials report that around 1.28 lakh devotees have paid obeisance at the cave shrine since July 3 when the yatra started.
• Over4 lakh people have registered online for this year’s pilgrimage, which ends on August 9.
• Last year witnessed a record turnout of over 5.10 lakh visitors at the shrine.

!Pilgrims ride on mules

Indian Opinion Analysis

The continuation of the Amarnath Yatra amidst demanding logistical challenges and heightened security concerns signifies its cultural importance and resilience as a spiritual event for millions across India. The operational scale-managing registrations exceeding four lakhs and deploying multi-tier security measures-reflects meticulous government efforts to ensure safety while accommodating large crowds efficiently.

The steep surge in participation this year compared to last highlights growing public enthusiasm despite previous incidents like April’s tragic attack underscoring ongoing vulnerabilities within sensitive areas like Jammu & Kashmir.

Notably, balancing robust infrastructure with ecological preservation remains crucial due to notable environmental footprints frequently enough associated with such massive gatherings near fragile Himalayan ecosystems-a critical aspect deserving sustained focus alongside improving pilgrim experience.

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