Amarnath Yatra Commences; First Batch Departs from Base Camps Under Tight Security

The annual Amarnath Yatra began on Thursday as the first batches of pilgrims departed from Baltal and Nunwan base camps in Jammu and Kashmir. Pilgrims, including men, women, and sadhus, began their journey toward the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine, home to a naturally formed ice-lingam, via the 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam and 14-km Baltal routes. On Wednesday, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first group of 5,892 pilgrims from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar base camp. The pilgrims received a warm welcome upon reaching the Kashmir Valley. Authorities have deployed heavy security forces, including aerial surveillance, to ensure a smooth and safe yatra.