JAMMU, Jul 5: The sixth batch of more than 6,000 Amarnath pilgrims embarked on their journey from Jammu in the early hours of Tuesday towards the twin base camps in Kashmir, according to officials. The annual pilgrimage to the 3,888-meter-high cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas began on July 1 from the tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district. The officials expect the number of pilgrims at the shrine to surpass 50,000 as devotees from across the country arrive at the base camps to witness the naturally formed ice-shivlingam and offer prayers.
The convoy departing from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu consisted of 6,107 pilgrims, including 1,203 women, 193 seers, and 31 children. The departure took place in the early hours of Wednesday, with a total of 244 vehicles accompanied by tight security arrangements. A convoy of 140 vehicles carried 3,929 pilgrims heading for Pahalgam, while another convoy of 104 vehicles departed at 3:15 am towards the Baltal base camp, carrying 2,178 pilgrims.
Since June 30, when the first batch of pilgrims was flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, a total of 30,269 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp for the valley. The yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 31.
