SRINAGAR: The 14th batch of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in the early hours of Wednesday, with 6,251 devotees departing for the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam under multi-layer security arrangements.
According to the Joint Police Control Room (JPCR), 2,985 pilgrims proceeded via the shorter Baltal route, while 3,266 opted for the traditional Pahalgam route. The convoy comprised 230 vehicles, including 137 buses, 34 medium motor vehicles (MMVs) and 59 light motor vehicles (LMVs).
Officials said the batch included 4,439 men, 1,614 women, 13 children, 78 sadhus, 53 sadhvis, one child sadhu, three transgender pilgrims and 50 foreign male pilgrims.
The Baltal-bound convoy departed at 2:42 am, followed by the Pahalgam-bound convoy at 3:27 am under extensive security cover.
As per the Yatra traffic plan, pilgrims travelling via the Baltal route will halt at the Lambar Ground Langar in Banihal for breakfast, while those heading to Pahalgam will stop at the Chanderkote Langar sites in Ramban district for breakfast and a short rest before continuing their journey to the Kashmir Valley.
With the departure of the latest batch, the total number of pilgrims who have left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine has risen to 99,287.
