Srinagar, July 3, 2025 – In a major initiative to ensure a clean and safe Amarnath Yatra 2025, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has deployed 7,361 trained sanitation personnel along the Pahalgam and Baltal routes. This strategic move aims to maintain hygienic conditions throughout the 38-day pilgrimage, which commenced on July 3 and will conclude on August 9, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan. The Directorate of Rural Sanitation, under the leadership of Director General Anoo Malhotra, has taken significant steps to enhance cleanliness and safety for the lakhs of devotees visiting the sacred Amarnath Cave Shrine. During an extensive tour of the Pahalgam axis, including Nunwan Base Camp and Chandanwari, Malhotra reviewed sanitation preparedness and inspected facilities to ensure seamless operations. Over 5,600 sanitation units, including 2,920 toilets and bathing units along the Pahalgam route and 2,693 on the Baltal route, have been installed to support pilgrims across the challenging Himalayan terrain.
The sanitation workforce operates in shifts to provide uninterrupted services, ensuring eco-friendly facilities and round-the-clock cleanliness. Malhotra emphasized the department’s commitment to providing a hygienic environment, stating, “Our goal is to ensure a clean and safe Yatra for all pilgrims, with robust sanitation measures in place.”
The Pahalgam route, a 48-km traditional trek, and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route are the two primary paths to the Amarnath Cave, located at an altitude of 3,880 meters. The pilgrimage, which attracts thousands of devotees to the naturally formed ice-lingam of Lord Shiva, is supported by extensive logistical arrangements, including 106 lodging centers, 125 community kitchens, and a multi-layered security grid with over 70,000 security personnel, including 42,000 stationed along the Pahalgam route alone.
The administration’s efforts also include drone surveillance, CCTV monitoring, and Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) to ensure safety, particularly in light of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam’s Baisaran Valley. Despite security concerns, pilgrims have shown resilience, with over 3.3 lakh devotees registered for the Yatra.
Local shopkeepers and authorities at the Baltal and Nunwan base camps have expressed enthusiasm, ensuring pilgrims face no inconvenience. The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), chaired by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, has urged devotees to follow health protocols and carry valid registration documents to ensure a smooth and spiritually fulfilling journey.
This comprehensive sanitation and security deployment underscores the administration’s commitment to making the Amarnath Yatra 2025 a safe, clean, and memorable experience for all pilgrims.
