Jammu, July 14: A fresh batch of more than 5,300 Shri Amarnath Yatra pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas base camp in Jammu on Tuesday for the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam in South Kashmir, amid extensive security arrangements.
Officials said that a total of 5,335 pilgrims left the Jammu base camp in 232 vehicles during the early morning hours. The group included 1,736 pilgrims heading towards Baltal and 3,599 pilgrims travelling via the Pahalgam route.
The pilgrims were escorted under a multi-layered security setup involving the civil administration, Jammu and Kashmir Police, security forces, and the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board to ensure a safe and smooth pilgrimage.
Meanwhile, over 2.5 lakh devotees have offered prayers at the holy cave shrine during the first eight days of the annual Yatra.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has urged pilgrims to undertake the pilgrimage only after completing the mandatory registration process and travelling on their allotted dates, warning that unregistered pilgrims will not be permitted to proceed towards the base camps.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had flagged off the first batch of Shri Amarnath Yatra pilgrims from Jammu on June 2.
