Jammu, Jul 30: A fresh batch of 1,795 pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for the holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir early Thursday under a multi-tier security arrangement, officials said.
The 23rd batch comprised 1,406 men and 389 women, who left for the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam in a convoy of 82 vehicles at around 2.50 am.
Officials said that with the departure of the latest batch, the total number of pilgrims who have left the Jammu base camp for the annual pilgrimage has reached 1,32,150.
They added that this was the smallest batch to leave for the pilgrimage in recent days. A total of 2,051 pilgrims departed on Wednesday, while 3,029 and 3,800 pilgrims left on Tuesday and Monday, respectively.
Meanwhile, more than 4.40 lakh devotees have paid obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva so far during this year’s pilgrimage.
The 57-day Amarnath Yatra, which resumed on July 25 after remaining suspended for six days due to inclement weather, is scheduled to conclude on August 28.
