Jammu: The annual Amarnath Yatra is witnessing a huge surge in pilgrim turnout this year, with the number of devotees performing darshan in the first six days increasing by around 28 per cent compared to the previous year.
Official figures reveal that 1,42,861 pilgrims had performed darshan till 7:00 PM on Wednesday, against 1,11,975 during the first six days of the pilgrimage in 2025, which is an increase of 30,886 pilgrims, or around 28 per cent.
On Wednesday alone, 29,047 devotees paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine, including 18,362 men, 9,737 women, 404 children, 181 sadhus, 13 sadhvis, 11 transgender devotees and 339 security personnel.
Meanwhile, the pilgrimage also witnessed its largest-ever single-day departure from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu, with 9,837 pilgrims leaving in the seventh batch for the twin base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal.
Officials said that the batch departed in a convoy of 361 vehicles, including 188 vehicles carrying 5,337 pilgrims via the traditional Pahalgam route and 173 vehicles carrying 4,500 pilgrims via the Baltal route.
The batch comprised 6,684 men, 2,730 women, 21 children, 320 sadhus, 80 sadhvis and two transgender devotees.
A heavy rush of pilgrims was witnessed at the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas from the early hours of the day as devotees from different parts of the country assembled for the annual pilgrimage.
Amarnath ice Shivling shrinks significantly; devotees rush for early darshan
The naturally formed ice Shivling inside the holy Amarnath cave shrine has reduced noticeably compared to its size at the beginning of the Yatra. The development has led to a surge in the number of devotees keen to reach the cave shrine as early as possible.
The 57-day Yatra, which commenced on July 3, is being conducted under a multi-layered security arrangement with extensive logistical support from the administration, police, CAPFs, health services and other departments. The pilgrimage will conclude on August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan

New Delhi, Srinagar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi has said that Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee was a great patriot and a visionary dedicated to the integrity of India. In his video message on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Mookerjee, Mr Modi said, the thought of Dr Mookerjee is playing a major role in guiding modern India.
Reflecting on the enduring legacy of the revered leader, the Prime Minister noted how the foundational thoughts planted decades ago are now visibly blossoming across the societal and political landscape.
He credited this robust ideological framework with playing an indispensable role in charting the course for the nation’s contemporary progress. He said, Dr Mookerjee fiercely opposed the talk of two constitutions, two prime ministers, nd two flags in the country.
The Prime Minister said Syama Prasad Mookerjee understood very well that the essence of nation-building is in the building of institutions.
He said, Dr Mookerjee laid the foundation for such national institutions, which became India’s economic strength for decades to come.
Mr Modi said, when there is a government with the resolution of Nation First, then national heroes also get due respect. He expressed immense pride that the current administration successfully honored the legacy of Dr Mookerjee by permanently dismantling the barriers of Article 370.
Exploring the economic foresight of independent India’s first Industry Minister Dr Mookerjee, Mr Modi cataloged the establishment of monumental entities like Chittaranjan Locomotive Works, Sindri Fertiliser Plant, Damodar Valley Corporation, and IFCI.
He credited these foundational institutions with successfully powering the nation’s railway, agricultural, energy, and financial sectors for decades.
He said the government is celebrating the 125th birth anniversary of Dr Syama Prasad Mookerjee with a two-year national celebration. The Prime Minister said, this celebration began on July 6th of last year and will continue until July 6th of next year.
He said, Dr Mukherjee’s life is an inspiration for the culmination of an idea to a mass movement. Mr Modi said, with the formation of the BJP government in Bengal, the state is adding enthusiasm to this national honour and commemorating this inspirational figure.
Directing a powerful call to action toward the younger generation, the Prime Minister urged them to elevate the historical fight for a unified nation into a modern crusade for supreme national excellence. He challenged the youth to collectively shoulder the massive responsibility of achieving complete self-reliance.

Prime Minister Modi highlighted the deep connection between the two nations, which transcends mere strategic partnership, and expressed optimism for future collaboration that would enhance prosperity and peace over the next 250 years. This message follows a recent meeting between Modi and Trump at the G7 Summit, where both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral ties despite existing challenges, such as tariff disputes and immigration issues. Trump characterized their relationship as exceptionally close, indicating a mutual desire to stabilize and deepen cooperation in strategic and economic areas. As the United States celebrates its milestone anniversary, Trump is set to lead the festivities, which have sparked political controversy due to their perceived partisanship. The celebrations include traditional events like fireworks and parades, particularly in Philadelphia, while Trump’s rally at the National Mall is expected to be a significant highlight, featuring military displays and heightened security measures. The anniversary has also revealed political divisions, with some Democratic-led states opting out of participation and performers withdrawing due to concerns over the celebrations’ political tone. Critics argue that the Freedom 250 initiative, which has taken a prominent role in the celebrations, presents a skewed narrative of American history, neglecting critical issues such as slavery and racial injustice.

Addressing a large gathering, Prime Minister Modi emphasised that this development is the next step in India’s massive electronics revolution, which has already established the country as the world’s second-largest mobile phone manufacturer. He stated that the CG Semi OSAT facility in Sanand will not only strengthen the domestic chip manufacturing ecosystem but also boost technological self-reliance and elevate India’s position in the global semiconductor value chain.

PM Modi expressed confidence that with this landmark project, Sanand will emerge as a rising global semiconductor cluster. He added that India is also actively vying for self-reliance in critical and high-tech minerals while focusing on strengthening the entire domestic supply chain. PM Modi called it the roadmap of Viksit Bharat and the second step of Make in India.

Lauding the diverse workforce at the plant, the Prime Minister described the complex as a “Mini India,” where engineers and professionals from various states are working under one roof to power the global digital economy. He asserted that this evolving ecosystem will provide wide opportunities for India’s youth to drive advancements in Artificial Intelligence and next-generation technologies.

PM Modi said, the Sanand plant is geared to produce 20 crore chips annually. He congratulated CG Semi on setting an ambitious future target of scaling production to 500 crore chips per year.

Upon reaching Sanand, the Prime Minister toured the high-tech plant and inspected the production process. He also interacted closely with the engineers and operators working inside the facility. Developed with a massive investment of over 7,500 crore rupees, the plant marks the commissioning of India’s third major semiconductor manufacturing unit and stands as a milestone in the nation’s journey toward self-reliance. Once its operations are fully ramped up, the advanced facility will have an annual production capacity of up to 5 billion semiconductor chips.