24th Batch of Amarnath Yatra Departs Jammu Base Camp Amid NH-44 Closure for Restoration Works

JAMMU JULY 31 — Demonstrating unwavering devotion, a fresh batch of 1,605 Amarnath pilgrims set off from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas early Friday morning toward the Baltal base camp, even as traffic ground to a complete halt along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44).

According to the official , this 24th batch—comprising 1,215 men, 335 women, 48 sadhus, five sadhvis, and two children—departed at 2:42 AM under heavy security in a 54-vehicle convoy consisting of 38 buses, seven medium motor vehicles, and nine light motor vehicles. Crucially, officials confirmed that the pilgrim convoy managed to safely cross the vulnerable stretches of the highway before authorities imposed a complete traffic suspension. With this latest departure, the cumulative number of pilgrims leaving the Jammu base camp for the annual pilgrimage this season has reached 1,35,806.

The temporary shutdown of NH-44 was ordered by the district administrations of Udhampur and Ramban to allow the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) to carry out urgent road restoration, debris clearance, and slope stabilization at landslide-prone spots such as Gangroo, Kishtwari Pathar, Samroli, and Ladha. Authorities emphasized that the traffic halt was essential to guarantee public safety and facilitate critical repair work to ensure the long-term, safe reopening of the vital arterial route.