Kashmir Impulse Desk

Jammu, July 3

More than 3800 yatris left Jammu on Friday for the annual Amarnath Yatra as authorities urged devotees to travel only on their allotted dates, warning that limited capacity and a court-mandated daily cap had sharply curtailed on-the-spot registrations for the Himalayan yatra.

A second batch of 3865 yatris departed the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas base camp before dawn in a convoy of 201 vehicles under tight security, a day after this year’s 57-day yatra commenced through the twin routes leading to the Amarnath cave shrine in Kashmir.

Officials said the yatris comprised 2965 men, 618 women, four children, 230 sadhus and 48 sadhvis.

Of them, 2130 yatris travelling in 86 vehicles were bound for the traditional Pahalgam route in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district, while 1735 yatris in 115 vehicles headed towards the shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal district.

The yatra, one of India’s largest annual religious gatherings, culminates at the 12,730-feet cave shrine, where a naturally formed ice stalagmite is revered by Hindu devotees as a symbol of lord Shiva.

As the number of devotees arriving in Jammu continues to rise, the Jammu and Kashmir administration appealed to yatris to complete advance registration before travelling, saying the facility for immediate or “Tatkal” registration was available only in limited numbers because of restrictions on the daily flow of yatris.

The administration said the cap had been fixed in accordance with directives of the Supreme Court to ensure the safety of yatris and the orderly conduct of the yatra through the high-altitude mountain routes.

“Most yatris have already completed advance registration through designated bank branches and online facilities. Consequently, the number of Tatkal registration slots is extremely limited,” the administration said in a public advisory.

Officials also cautioned registered yatris against arriving before the date specified on their registration permits, saying no devotee would be allowed to undertake the yatra ahead of the scheduled date.

“It has also been observed that many registered yatris are reaching Jammu and Kashmir before their allotted date. They will not be permitted to proceed before the date mentioned on their registration,” the advisory said.

Authorities appealed to unregistered devotees already in Jammu to remain patient and cooperate with officials, assuring them that every eligible yatri would be accommodated subject to available capacity and prescribed procedures.

The advisory comes amid a surge in the number of devotees reaching Jammu following the commencement of the annual yatra, prompting authorities to regulate the movement of yatris along both trekking routes.