Second Batch of 3,865 Amarnath Pilgrims Departs Jammu, Total Crosses 8,600

The second batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Friday under stringent security arrangements , as the annual pilgrimage to the revered Himalayan shrine continued smoothly.

According to officials, 3,865 pilgrims travelled in a convoy of 201 vehicles escorted by security personnel and the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) . Of them, 1,735 pilgrims in 115 vehicles headed towards the Baltal base camp , while 2,130 pilgrims in 86 vehicles proceeded to the Nunwan-Pahalgam base camp in south Kashmir.

The 57-day Amarnath Yatra , which began on Friday, is being conducted simultaneously via the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on August 28 .

Devotional chants of "Bam Bam Bhole," "Har Har Mahadev," and "Jai Barfani Baba Ki" filled the Bhagwati Nagar base camp as pilgrims set off for the holy cave shrine. Many devotees expressed satisfaction with the arrangements made for the pilgrimage, including transport, accommodation and security.

The latest convoy follows the departure of the first batch of 4,822 pilgrims , which was flagged off on Thursday by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha . With Friday's movement, the total number of pilgrims who have left the Jammu base camp for Kashmir has reached 8,687 .

Authorities have deployed a multi-layered security grid across the pilgrimage route to ensure the safe conduct of the yatra. Security personnel have been stationed along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway , at transit camps, and around the Bhagwati Nagar base camp, while escorted convoys and enhanced surveillance are being used to facilitate the uninterrupted movement of pilgrims.

Officials said the pilgrimage is progressing in an orderly manner, with elaborate logistical and security measures in place to ensure a safe and peaceful journey for devotees visiting the 3,880-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine .