Umaisar Gull Ganie
Srinagar, Jul 15: Despite overcast weather conditions in the higher reaches of Kashmir, the annual Amarnath Yatra continues to progress smoothly, with thousands of devotees undertaking the pilgrimage to the holy cave.
According to official figures accessed by news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), a total of 13,490 pilgrims performed darshan at the holy cave on July 15, including 9,096 male, 3,546 female, 199 children, 67 sadhus, and 14 sadhvis. 568 security personnel also availed darshan.
The cumulative number of yatris who have paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine so far this year has now reached 2,34,001, officials said.
Meanwhile, fresh batches of pilgrims continue to proceed from the Jammu base camp towards the Valley. As per data, a total of 6,388 yatris left Jammu in the 14th batch on Tuesday. These included 2,501 pilgrims via the Baltal axis and 3,887 via the Pahalgam route.
The convoy consisted of 248 vehicles, comprising 129 buses, 38 medium motor vehicles (MMVs), 73 light motor vehicles (LMVs), and 8 two-wheelers.
Among the pilgrims were 4,886 males, 1,300 females, 15 children, 158 sadhus, and 21 sadhvis.
Despite intermittent rain and cloudy conditions, authorities said the yatra is continuing peacefully and all necessary arrangements including medical aid, escort security, and traffic regulation remain in place.
Over 51 lakh undertake Amarnath Yatra in past 15 years
Over the past decade and a half, the Amarnath Yatra has seen a cumulative footfall of more than 51 lakh pilgrims. Official figures reflect sharp fluctuations in pilgrim turnout, influenced by both natural and administrative factors.
In 2010, 4.55 lakh pilgrims made their way to the Amarnath cave shrine. The numbers peaked in the following two years, with 6.21 lakh pilgrims recorded in 2011 and 6.35 lakh in 2012. However, subsequent years witnessed a decline, reaching a low of 2.21 lakh in 2016.
The dip was attributed to weather-related disruptions and security concerns. The turnaround began in the years that followed, with authorities ramping up facilities and tightening safety arrangements.
The Yatra began regaining momentum, crossing 3 lakh in 2018 and remaining steady until the pandemic halted the pilgrimage entirely in 2020 and 2021.
In 2022, the Yatra resumed with 3.04 lakh pilgrims, followed by a notable increase in 2023 as 4.50 lakh devotees participated. The upward trend continued into 2024, when a record 5 lakh pilgrims—both domestic and international—undertook the journey to the high-altitude shrine.
It was the highest turnout since 2012. Between 2021 and 2024, the duration of the pilgrimage varied widely. In 2021, it was scheduled for 56 days but was suspended midway due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The yatra was conducted over 43 days in 2022, 62 days in 2023, and 52 days in 2024—(KNO)
