Banihal, Aug 02: The annual Shri Amarnath Yatra resumed on Sunday after remaining suspended for a day due to the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) for restoration works following heavy rains and landslides.
According to the Zonal Police Control Room, Jammu, a total of 3,886 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in the 25th batch for the Baltal base camp in Kashmir in a convoy of 177 vehicles at 2:52 am under tight security arrangements.
The batch comprised 3,098 men, 673 women, five children, 87 sadhus, 22 sadhvis and one child sadhu. The convoy included 78 buses, 42 medium motor vehicles (MMVs), 53 light motor vehicles (LMVs), and four two-wheelers.
The pilgrimage had remained suspended on Saturday after authorities closed NH-44 between Udhampur and Banihal to undertake restoration works at landslide-hit stretches. The highway was reopened on Saturday evening after repairs, paving the way for the resumption of the Yatra.
With Sunday’s movement, the cumulative number of pilgrims who have departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the Baltal route has reached 1,39,692, officials said.
The pilgrimage is continuing under heightened security and traffic regulation measures, with authorities closely monitoring weather conditions and the condition of the national highway.
