Srinagar Jul 3 (NVI): The annual Shri Amarnath Yatra commenced on Friday as the first batch of pilgrims began their journey from the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps towards the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir, while another 3,865 pilgrims left Jammu for the Valley under tight security.
Officials said the pilgrimage started early in the morning from both the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route and the shorter 14-km Baltal route despite intermittent rain.
Pilgrims, including men, women and sadhus, were flagged off from the Nunwan and Baltal base camps by the respective Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police amid chants of “Bum Bum Bhole”.
Meanwhile, the second batch of pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in two escorted convoys.
According to officials, 1,735 pilgrims travelling via the Baltal route left at 3:13 am, while 2,130 pilgrims bound for the Pahalgam route departed at 3:38 am, taking the strength of the second batch to 3,865.
The batch comprises 2,965 men, 618 women, 230 sadhus, 48 sadhvis and four children, officials said.
The pilgrims are travelling in 201 vehicles, including 83 buses, 14 medium motor vehicles and 104 light motor vehicles. Of these, 115 vehicles are heading to Baltal and 86 to Pahalgam, they added.
Authorities have deployed multi-layered security arrangements involving the Jammu and Kashmir Police, CRPF and other security agencies to ensure the smooth and safe conduct of the 57-day pilgrimage, which will conclude on August 28.
With the departure of the second batch, a total of 8,687 pilgrims have left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for the Kashmir Valley over the past two days, officials said.(NVI)
