Jammu: Amid tight security arrangements, over 4,800 pilgrims left Jammu city early Thursday for the twin base camps in Kashmir to join the annual Amarnath Yatra. The officers provided this information.
He said the 14th batch of 4,885 pilgrims left for the twin base camps of Baltal and Palagam in 191 vehicles at 3.06 am and were escorted by CRPF security.
Following the terror attack and ongoing operations, security has been further tightened in and around the Bhagwati Nagar base camp and along the yatra route.
Officials said the contingent comprising 2,366 men, 1,086 women, 32 children and 163 'sadhus' and 'sadhvis' left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in a convoy of buses and light motor vehicles.
He said that while 2,991 pilgrims chose the traditional 48 km long Pahalgam route for their journey, 1,894 others chose the shorter but difficult 14 km long Baltal route.
With this, a total of 77,210 pilgrims have left for the Valley from the Jammu base camp since Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch on June 28.
The 52-day yatra began on June 29 and will end on August 19.
Last year more than 4.5 lakh pilgrims visited the cave temple.
Officials said that in view of the threat, security has been increased at the base camp, accommodation centers in Jammu, arrival center at Lakhanpur and on the highway.
He said that regional control on the highway has been strengthened and checking of vehicles and searching of people around the travel destinations has been intensified.
He said the 14th batch of 4,885 pilgrims left for the twin base camps of Baltal and Palagam in 191 vehicles at 3.06 am and were escorted by CRPF security.
Following the terror attack and ongoing operations, security has been further tightened in and around the Bhagwati Nagar base camp and along the yatra route.
Officials said the contingent comprising 2,366 men, 1,086 women, 32 children and 163 'sadhus' and 'sadhvis' left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in a convoy of buses and light motor vehicles.
He said that while 2,991 pilgrims chose the traditional 48 km long Pahalgam route for their journey, 1,894 others chose the shorter but difficult 14 km long Baltal route.
With this, a total of 77,210 pilgrims have left for the Valley from the Jammu base camp since Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch on June 28.
The 52-day yatra began on June 29 and will end on August 19.
Last year more than 4.5 lakh pilgrims visited the cave temple.
Officials said that in view of the threat, security has been increased at the base camp, accommodation centers in Jammu, arrival center at Lakhanpur and on the highway.
He said that regional control on the highway has been strengthened and checking of vehicles and searching of people around the travel destinations has been intensified.