In Jammu and Kashmir, the 29th batch of 2566 Amarnath pilgrims today left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas base camp in Jammu for the Kashmir valley to perform a pilgrimage to Amarnath Cave Shrine. Akashvaniu Jammu Correspondent reports that the pilgrims left the base camp in a cavalcade of 84 vehicles amid tight security arrangements early this morning. The batch included 1877 Men, 577 Women, 12 Children, 95 Sadhus & 5 Sadhvies. Of these, 885 pilgrims left for Baltal base camp and 1681 for Pahalgam base camp from where they will proceed for their further journey to the holy cave. More than 4.36 lakh pilgrims have already paid obeisance at the naturally-formed ice lingam at the 3880 metre-high cave shrine, as compared to over 4.5 lakh last year.

Since June 28, when LG Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of Amarnath Yatris from Jammu, 3, 14, 059 pilgrims have embarked from the Jammu base camp. The 52-day yatra, which commenced formally on June 29 from Baltal and Pahalgam base camps, will conclude on August 19.