Another batch of pilgrims on way to Amarnath shrine

Amarnath pilgrims walk towards a base camp under security arrangements at Banihal, in Ramban district, Jammu and Kashmir, Sunday, July 5, 2026. | The batch, including 1,310 women and 22 children, left the Jammu base camp in two separate convoys at 3 a.m. and 3.40 a.m., the officials said.This was the fourth batch of pilgrims leaving Jammu for Kashmir since July 2, when Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the yatra from Jammu.With this, a total of 20,220 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp for the valley so far.More than 26,000 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine during the first two days of the annual 57-day Amarnath Yatra, which commenced on July 3.The pilgrimage is being conducted simultaneously via the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district.The officials said the first convoy, carrying 2,590 pilgrims in 152 vehicles, left for the Baltal base camp, while the second convoy, comprising 4,131 pilgrims in 139 vehicles, proceeded to the Pahalgam base camp to undertake the pilgrimage.Officials also announced that, beginning Sunday (July 5, 2026), only registered pilgrims will be permitted to proceed to Kashmir, while unregistered devotees will be stopped at designated checkpoints until fresh registration quotas become available. Published - July 05, 2026 09:21 am IST