BANIHAL, July 17: The 16th batch of pilgrims undertaking the annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra-2026 left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in the early hours of Friday under multi-layer security arrangements, officials said.
According to the Joint Police Control Room (JPCR), a total of 4,640 pilgrims departed for the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam in 171 vehicles.
Of the total, 1,626 pilgrims left for the Baltal axis in 66 vehicles, while 3,014 pilgrims proceeded towards the Pahalgam axis in 105 vehicles.
The Baltal convoy departed at 2:42 am, followed by the Pahalgam convoy at 3:11 am.
The batch comprised 3,448 male pilgrims, 1,075 female pilgrims, five children, 89 sadhus and 23 sadhvis. No foreign pilgrims or transgender devotees were part of the convoy, the officials said.
The convoy included 104 buses, 25 medium motor vehicles (MMVs), 39 light motor vehicles (LMVs) and three two-wheelers.
With the departure of the 16th batch, the total number of pilgrims who have left Bagwati Nagar base camp Jammu for the Kashmir-based holy cave shrine since the commencement of this year’s pilgrimage has reached 109,128, according to official figures.
The annual 57-day Shri Amarnath Yatra is being conducted under elaborate security arrangements, with police, paramilitary forces and civil administration ensuring the safe movement of pilgrims along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
