Another batch of 1672 pilgrims leaves for Amarnath shrine

Jammu, July 2 : Another batch of 1672 pilgrims left for the Amarnath yatra from the base camp of Bhagwati Nagar early this morning.

The pilgrimage is being held amid large scale protests and violence against the cancellation of the land allotment order to the Sri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).

According to official sources, the devotees, including 273 women and 49 children, left in a convoy of 53 vehicles at around 5:00 a.m. They were escorted by a group of CRPF personnel.

A total of 34,282 pilgrims have so far left the shrine. The first batch left on June 17.

Meanwhile, the yatra has so far been suspended four times due to bad weather and heavy rush of pilgrims on June 20, 25, 27 and 29. The two-month long yatra will conclude on August 16.

Security forces have been put on a high alert along the entire route of the pilgrimage to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. The security setup consists of area domination and setting up of mountain posts by Army, deployments of CRPF and mobile patrolling by armed police.

Every year, a large number of devotees trek the steep, slippery 48-kilometres route to reach the Amarnath cave shrine, which stands at a height of nearly 12,500 feet above sea level.

ANI