Fresh batch of 2,244 pilgrims leave for Amarnath

A fresh batch of 2,244 pilgrims today left here for their onward journey to cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas.

The batch comprising of 1,464 men, 477 women, 88 children and 215 sadhus left in a cavalcade of 49 vehicles from the base camp at Bhagwati Nagar here around 0500 hours despite heavy rains lashing wide parts of Jammu province, officials said.

The pilgrims are likely to reach at Baltal and Pahalgam by the evening to undertake trekking towards the cave shrine located at 3,888 metres above sea level in south Kashmir.

With today's batch, as many as 59,252 pilgrims have left from here so far to the cave shrine since the commencement of yatra on June 30.