Another batch of 2,166 pilgrims leave Jammu for Amarnath

Jammu, July 8 (ANI): A fresh batch of 2,166 pilgrims left here on Thursday for their onward journey to the holy Amarnath cave shrine.

The batch comprising of 1,435 males, 517 females, 94 children and 120 sadhus left in a convoy of 88 vehicles.

As many as 90,000 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave shrine till Wednesday night, Shrine Amarnath Shrine Board officials said.

According to sources, the yatra is going on smoothly. All arrangements, including security, are in place to ensure smooth yatra via twin tracks from Pahalagam-Amarnath and Baltal-Amarnath.

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)