Fresh batch of pilgrims leave for Amarnath

Team Udayavani, Jul 19, 2018, 10:20 AM IST

Jammu: A fresh batch of 2,617 pilgrims today 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 performing 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.