Fresh batch of pilgrims leaves for Amarnath

Jammu, July 19

A fresh batch of 2,617 pilgrims on Thursday left the base camp here to undertake the annual yatra to the Amarnath shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.

The pilgrims left in a convoy of 81 vehicles under tight security in the early hours and would be reaching the twin base camps of Baltal in Ganderbal and Pahalgam in Anantnag districts later in the day, the officials said.

Among the latest batch, they said 1,830 pilgrims are undertaking the yatra from the traditional 36 km Pahalgam track, while 787 others have chosen the shorter 12 km Baltal route.

The 60-day yatra began from the twin routes in the Valley on June 28 and is scheduled to conclude on August 26 coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival. PTI