Shri Amarnath Yatra 2026: 14th Batch of 6,251 Pilgrims Departs Jammu Base Camp for Baltal and Pahalgam
FILE PHOTO
JAMMU, July 15, 2026 — Under a tight and heavily coordinated multi-layered security cover, the 14th official batch of the annual Amarnath Yatra departed from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas base camp in Jammu early Wednesday morning.
A grand total of 6,251 pilgrims commenced their journey toward the twin base camps in the Kashmir Valley, splitting across two traditional routes: 2,985 devotees headed toward the shorter, steeper Baltal axis, while 3,266 pilgrims opted for the traditional Nunwan base camp via the Pahalgam route.
The comprehensive breakdown of the entire 14th batch reveals a highly diverse group of devotees consisting of 4,439 men, 1,614 women, 13 children, 78 sadhus, 53 sadhvis, one sadhu child, three transgender individuals, and 50 foreign male pilgrims. Specifically, the Baltal axis convoy consisted of 1,872 men, 964 women, 9 children, 53 sadhus, 36 sadhvis, 1 sadhu child, 50 foreign men, and no transgender pilgrims.
Meanwhile, the Pahalgam axis convoy was comprised of 2,567 men, 650 women, 4 children, 25 sadhus, 17 sadhvis, no sadhu children, no foreign men, and 3 transgender pilgrims. To facilitate the massive vehicular transit, a coordinated fleet of 230 vehicles rolled out from the base camp, including a grand total of 137 buses, 34 medium motor vehicles (MMVs), and 59 light motor vehicles (LMVs), with no two-wheelers participating in either axis.
For the Baltal-bound route, which officially departed at 02:53 AM, security forces escorted a package of 120 vehicles composed of 64 buses, 21 MMVs, and 35 LMVs. The Pahalgam-bound convoy departed shortly after at 03:57 AM, featuring 110 total vehicles, which included 73 buses, 13 MMVs, and 24 LMVs. The entire movement was executed under the strict vigilance of the Jammu and Kashmir Police, the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and allied security forces deployed along the national highway to ensure a safe journey for all devotees.