Fresh batch of over 990 pilgrims leaves Jammu for Amarnath Yatra

Another batch of over 990 pilgrims, including 152 women, left a base camp here for the two main base camps in Kashmir early Saturday to embark on the annual Amarnath Yatra, officials said.

This was the smallest batch of devotees leaving Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar base camp since the commencement of the 52-day-long yatra from the twin base camps of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on June 29.

More than 4.85 lakh pilgrims have so far visited the cave shrine situated at the height of 3,880 metre, housing an ice-shivling. The natural formation, which has now melted completely, is the main reason behind the declining number of pilgrims over the past week.