Another batch of pilgrims leaves Jammu for Amarnath shrine

Jammu, Jul 20 (PTI) A fresh batch of 3,471 pilgrims, including 654 women, left a base camp here for the Amarnath shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas in the early hours of Saturday, officials said.

The 23rd batch of pilgrims, which also included 93 sadhus and 34 sadhvis, left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp at 3 am in a convoy of 114 vehicles escorted by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), they said.

While 2,398 pilgrims will reach Pahalgam to undertake the annual pilgrimage through the traditional 48-km route in Anantnag district, 1,073 have opted for the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district.

More than 3.75 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the naturally-formed ice lingam at the cave shrine so far this year. More than 4.5 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the shrine last year.

The yatra commenced on June 29 and is scheduled to conclude on August 19.