The annual Amarnath pilgrimage is set to begin on July 3, with over 300,000 devotees already registered to undertake the journey to the Himalayan cave shrine. The 38-day pilgrimage, considered one of the holiest for Hindus, will conclude on August 9.

This year’s yatra carries added significance following the April 22 terror attack in the Basiran meadows of Pahalgam, which left 26 people and a local worker dead. 

Amid the security concerns, authorities have decided to allow the pilgrimage to proceed along the traditional Pahalgam and Baltal routes under what they describe as “unprecedented security arrangements.”

“The number of registrations reflects that the April 22 attack has not dampened the spirits of the pilgrims,” an official said.

The shrine, located at an altitude of 3,880 metres (12,730 feet) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Himalayas, draws hundreds of thousands of pilgrims annually. The trek is conducted along two routes – a 48-km trail from Pahalgam, and a steeper 14-km path from Baltal.

Security Deployment

Authorities have made elaborate security arrangements, deploying more than 50,000 security personnel to secure both routes leading to the cave shrine. Convoy movement will be escorted by the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF), while drones and helicopters will monitor the area from above. Pilgrims will also be issued RFID tags to enable real-time tracking of their movement.

“About 500 companies from central paramilitary forces are being deployed to ensure the yatra proceeds without incident,” a senior security official said.

Attacks on Yatra

The Amarnath Yatra has been targeted multiple times over the years by militants. In July 2017, a bus carrying pilgrims was attacked in Anantnag, killing eight and injuring 19 others.

On August 2, 2000, terrorists stormed the Nunwan base camp, killing at least 32 pilgrims. The following year, 13 devotees were killed near Sheeshnag Lake. In August 2002, another attack on the Nunwan base camp claimed nine lives. In total, over 150 pilgrims have been injured in various attacks over the past two decades.

Despite the history of violence, authorities say comprehensive security planning, real-time surveillance, and improved coordination are in place to ensure a safe pilgrimage this year.

Published on June 10, 2025