Amarnath yatra: Another batch of 3,471 pilgrims leaves Jammu for shrine

A fresh batch of 3471 pilgrims including 654 women left a base camp for the Amarnath shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas in the early hours of Saturday officials saidAccording to the PTI report the officials noted the 23rd batch of pilgrims which also included 93 sadhus and 34 sadhvis left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp at 3 am in a convoy of 114 vehicles escorted by the Central Reserve Police Force CRPFAs per the PTI report 1073 pilgrims have opted for the shorter but steeper 14 km Baltal route in Ganderbal district while 2398 pilgrims will reach Pahalgam to undertake the annual pilgrimage through the traditional 48 km route in Anantnag districtMore than 375 lakh pilgrims have reportedly paid obeisance at the naturallyformed ice lingam at the cave shrine so far this yearMore than 45 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the shrine last year reported PTIThe yatra commenced on June 29 and is scheduled to conclude on August 19Traffic Advisory Issued for Amarnath Yatra on NH44Another report by ANI stated that Jammu and Kashmir Traffic Police had issued an advisory on National Highway44 with specific cutoff timings and instructions for convoy and nonconvoy movements to ensure the safe and efficient movement of pilgrims and other commuters during the Amarnath YatraSpeaking to ANI on Saturday Senior Superintendent of Police Traffic NH44 Rohit Baskotra outlined the guidelines for managing traffic during the pilgrimageAfter the Amarnath Yatra convoy sets off in the morning nonconvoy vehicles on NH44 can cross Nagrota around noon Jikhaini Udhampur around 1 pm Chandrakot Ramban around 2 pm and Banihal around 3 pm After these times they will not be allowed he statedIf there is a delay the vehicles will be held at these locations and released the next day I urge people to follow these cutoff times to ensure the safety and security of the pilgrims he addedA traffic police checkpoint is in place on NH44 to monitor traffic flow and safeguard the safety of Amarnath YatrisIn preparation for the yatra the Udhampur Health Department has stationed five mobile medical teams ambulances along the JammuSrinagar National Highway from Tikri to Chenani Nashri Tunnel in Udhampur This initiative aims to provide immediate medical assistance to pilgrims in case of emergencies during their journey These ambulances will be stationed at key locations and equipped with medical personnel and supplies Dr Anil Manhas Chief Medical Officer at Udhampur told ANIIn serious medical cases patients will be transported to designated referral centres including the Associated Hospital Government Medical College Udhampur the Primary Health Centre Tikri the Community Health Centre Chenani and the Primary Health Centre Majalta Twenty beds have been reserved at the Associated Hospital Medical College Udhampur with ten beds each at the Primary Health Centre Tikri Community Health Centre Chenani and Primary Health Centre MajaltaWith inputs from PTI