A new batch of more than 7,300 pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu early Thursday morning to undertake the continuous Amarnath Yatra, officials said.
Since the 38-day pilgrimage commenced on July 3 from the twin routes of Baltal in Ganderbal and Pahalgam in Anantnag, around 1.28 lakh pilgrims have prayed at the revered cave shrine located 3,880 metres above the Himalayas.
The officials explained the ninth batch of pilgrims comprised 7,307 people — 5,534 men, 1,586 women, 25 children, and 162 sadhus and sadhvis. The batch left between 3:15 am and 3:58 am in a procession of 284 vehicles under a strong security grid.
Of them, 3,081 pilgrims went to the Baltal route, a steeper but shorter 14-kilometre journey, in 137 vehicles. The other group of 4,226 pilgrims went by the traditional 48-kilometre Pahalgam route in 147 vehicles.
This departure took the number of pilgrims departing the Jammu base camp since July 2 to 62,788. The initial batch was flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha.
Security at Bhagwati Nagar has been greatly strengthened, particularly in the wake of the tragic April 22 attack in Pahalgam that took 26 lives. The base camp is now under a thorough multi-layered security arrangement.
On-line registrations for this year's Amarnath Yatra have already exceeded the 4 lakh mark, an indication of continued interest and faith. The pilgrimage will end on August 9.
There were over 5.10 lakh pilgrims who went to the sacred cave last year, which houses a naturally occurring ice lingam symbolizing Lord Shiva.
Read also| Indian Nurse Nimisha Priya Faces Execution in Yemen on July 16
