1066 pilgrims leave for Amarnath cave shrine

Jammu, July 21: A fresh batch of 1066 pilgrims today left for the Pehalgam (Nunvan) and Baltal base camps from where they will leave for the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir himalays, official sources said.

The convoy of 34 vehicles including 23 buses and 11 light motor vehicles departed from the base camp of Maulana Azad Memorial (MAM) stadium for Nunwan (Pehalgam) and Baltal yatra camps at around 0505 hrs, they added.

As many as 1066 pilgrims, including 621 men, 195 women, 40 children and 210 sadhus were those who left today.

With today's batch, a total of 37,477 yatris have left for the shrine from Jammu city since the commencement of the yatra on July 2, sources said, adding that on an average four to five thousand devotees have been paying obeisance to the icelingam at the holy cave.

More than 1.58 lakh pilgrims have so far paid obeisance to icelingam at the holy cave of Baba Amarnathji in south Kashmir Himalayas during first 20 days of pilgrimage, sources said.

UNI