NEW DELHI: The Kashmir Police has issued an advisory for devotees undertaking the Amarnath Yatra, which is taking place in the shadow of April’s terrorist attack in Pahalgam, where 26 people were shot dead by Pakistan-backed terrorists.The 38-day pilgrimage commenced on Thursday.“#Advisory for Yatris of Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2025. All the pilgrims undertaking Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2025 are advised to travel only in designated convoys originating from Bhagwati Nagar, Baltal and Nunwan Base Camps,” Kashmir Zone Police said in a social media post.

“The Yatris arriving long before the scheduled date are advised to arrive reasonably prior to their day of yatra,” it added.

Kashmir Zone Police tweets

The guidelines come amid an increased focus on security arrangements and preparedness for the annual pilgrimage, which sees thousands of devotees trekking to the sacred Amarnath cave of Lord Shiva, in south Kashmir every year.Meanwhile, authorities have set up 17 medical camps at “langar” sites, established mini hospitals, and deployed ambulances across the Ramban district for the 38-day pilgrimage.“On behalf of the health department, we have set up 17 camps at langar sites and lodgement centres across Ramban district from Nashri tunnel to Navyug tunnel. Mini hospitals have been established at Yatri Niwas Chanderkot and Lambhar Ground, featuring a four-bed indoor facility, a laboratory, and an ECG unit. We have also placed cardiac monitors there this year. Two ambulances have been deployed at Yatri Niwas Chanderkot, the langar site in Chanderkot, and Lambhar Ground. We have also kept back-up ambulances for any untoward incidents,” Ramban’s chief medical officer Kamal Zadoo said.The pilgrimage will end on August 9. It will follow two routes, the traditional 48-kilometre Pahalgam route in the Anantnag district, and the shorter but steeper 14-kilometre Baltal route in the Ganderbal district. The first group of devotees departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Thursday.