Fresh batch of pilgrims leaves for Amarnath shrine

A batch of over 2,800 pilgrims left Jammu on Friday for the cave shrine of Amarnath in the south Kashmir Himalayas.

Escorted by CRPF and police personnel, the 23rd batch of 2,896 pilgrims, including 2,505 men and 314 women, left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here in 117 vehicles for the twin base camps in Kashmir between 3:30 am and 4:18 am, officials said.

The first pilgrim convoy, carrying 790 pilgrims in 42 vehicles, left for the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district, followed by the second convoy of 2,106 pilgrims in 75 vehicles, who are undertaking the yatra via the 48-km traditional Pahalgam route in Anantnag district, they said.

With this, a total of 13,67,74 pilgrims have departed from the Jammu base camp for the Valley since July 2, when Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch.

Last year, over 5.10 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine, which houses a naturally formed ice lingam.

The pilgrimage is scheduled to end on August 9, coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan.