7000 pilgrims leaves Jammu for cave shrine

Jammu, July 5: Setting a new record, eighth batch of 6919 pilgrims Friday left Jammu for twin routes to the holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath in South Kashmir.

This was the highest number of pilgrims who left for pilgrimage from Jammu base camp since June 28, when the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch from Bhagwati Nagar.

Meanwhile, General Officer Commanding (GOC) White Knight (16) Corps Lt Gen Navin Sachdeva accompanied by GOC CIF (D) assessed the security arrangements along the higher reaches and areas dominating NH 44 for the Amarnath Yatra as part of 'Op Shiva'.

“Safety remains a top priority, achieved through synergised efforts by all security agencies,” White Knight Corps posted on ‘X.’

Giving a detailed account of pilgrims, who embarked on pilgrimage from Jammu base camp, officials said, “6919 pilgrims, including 5241 males, 1435 females, 16 children, 214 Sadhus and 13 Sadhvis, left Yatri Niwas- Jammu base camp at Bhagwati Nagar in 259 vehicles.”

“Of these pilgrims, 4377 yatris, comprising 3488 males, 723 females, 7 children, 153 Sadhus and 6 Sadhvis left for Pahalgam axis in 150 vehicles while 2542 pilgrims including 1753 males, 712 females, 9 children, 61 Sadhus and 7 Sadhvis opted for Baltal axis. They left in 109 vehicles,” they added.

Annual Yatra, which commenced on June 29 from Pahalgam and Baltal in Kashmir, will culminate on August 19.