Smallest batch of Amarnath pilgrims leaves Jammu base camp

The smallest batch of 1,605 devotees departed from the Jammu base camp for the Amarnath Yatra on Friday under tight security. More than 4.47 lakh pilgrims have visited the cave shrine since the pilgrimage began on July 3

Jammu: The smallest batch of 1,605 devotees left the Jammu base camp for the annual Amarnath Yatra amid multi-tier security arrangements on Friday, officials said.

More than 4.47 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Lord Shiva in Anantnag district since the Yatra commenced on July 3. The annual pilgrimage will conclude on August 28.

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On Friday, the 22nd batch of 1,605 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for Baltal in 54 vehicles, the officials said.

With this, a total of 1,34,011 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp for the annual Yatra, officials said.

Friday’s batch was the smallest to leave Jammu so far. While 1,795 and 2,051 pilgrims left Jammu for the shrine on Thursday and Wednesday, respectively, Tuesday and Monday saw 3,029 and 3,800 pilgrims leave the Bhagwati Nagar base camp, respectively.

The Yatra was suspended for six days from July 19 to July 24 due to the forecast of inclement weather. It resumed on July 25.