In Jammu and Kashmir, the 7th batch of over 6,500 Amarnath pilgrims left for twin base camps of Nunwan Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district, under tight security arrangements early this morning from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas. 

A total of 6554 pilgrims including 5053 males, 1375 females, 25 children, 95 Sadhus, and 6 Sadhvi left the Jammu base camp in a cavalcade of 272 vehicles amid tight security arrangements. 2690 pilgrims left via the base camp of Baltal in 131 vehicles, while 3864 left via the traditional Nunwan Pahalgam base camp in 141 vehicles. These pilgrims will reach their respective base camps by the evening from where they will proceed for their onward yatra early tomorrow morning. With this, a total of 36,823 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp for the valley since June 30. 

A total of 67,566 pilgrims have visited the Amarnath cave shrine since the beginning of the Yatra on July 1. The 62 day annual pilgrimage to the 3,888-metre-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas commenced from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on July 1 which is scheduled to conclude on August 31. The yatra is progressing smoothly, with devotees from across the country thronging the base camps to have a glimpse of the naturally formed ice-shivlingam and offer their prayers.