Fresh batch of 3,165 pilgrims leave Jammu for Amarnath

Jammu, July 4 (ANI): A fresh batch of 3,165 pilgrims left here on Sunday for their onward journey to the holy Amarnath cave shrine.

The batch, comprising of 2,157 males, 699 females, 111 children and 198 sadhus, left in a convoy of 228 vehicles.

With today's batch, over 12,000 pilgrims have left Jammu for the cave shrine in past five days.

The CRPF has deployed 50 companies comprising 6,250 men and officers while the Army has set up 97 area domination posts in and around the cave shrine in Lidder Valley, besides Pahalgam and along the route in Anantnag, Ramban and Udhampur Districts.

For the last few days, tension has prevailed in several districts of Jammu and Kashmir following clashes between security forces and civilians.

The Amarnath cave shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the main shrine is claimed to be over 5,000-years-old. (ANI)