Pilgrims Embark on Amarnath Yatra Amid Heightened Security

A group of pilgrims departed from Panthachowk in Srinagar on Sunday for the Amarnath cave shrine in South Kashmir, supported by tight security measures. The 52-day pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on August 19.

Another group of pilgrims departed from Panthachowk in Srinagar on Sunday to embark on the Amarnath Yatra in the South Kashmir Himalayas, amid stringent security measures. The pilgrims are en route to the base camps in Baltal and Pahalgam, from where they will continue their journey to the sacred cave shrine.

'I am heading to the Amarnath Yatra from Baltal. All arrangements made are excellent. I will pray for everyone's safety and the nation's progress,' said Binay Kumarsi, a pilgrim from Uttar Pradesh. Kamal Nirmalkar, a resident of Chhattisgarh, echoed this sentiment, praising the security arrangements.

This year's Amarnath Yatra is occurring against a backdrop of increased terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir. Organized by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, the yatra involves two routes: one through Pahalgam and the other via Baltal in the Ganderbal district. The 52-day pilgrimage, which started on June 29, is set to conclude on August 19.

(With inputs from agencies.)