Jammu. The third batch of more than 6,400 pilgrims to visit the Amarnath Cave Temple in South Kashmir Himalayas left for two different convoys from Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Friday. Officials said in the information that about 14,000 pilgrims have appeared in the 3,880 meter high holy cave temple since the 38 -day annual journey started from Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district.
He said that the third batch of 6,411 pilgrims including 4,723 men, 1,071 women, 37 children and 580 sadhus and sadhvis left in 291 vehicles. The batch left for Baltal and Pahalgam in two groups from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas under the protection of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) late on Thursday and at 4 am on Friday.
While 3,622 pilgrims aboard 138 vehicles chose the 48 km long traditional Pahalgam route, 2,789 pilgrims aboard 153 vehicles chose small but more difficult 14 km long Baltal route.
A total of 17,549 pilgrims have left for the Valley from the Jammu base camp since Wednesday. Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the journey from here on Wednesday. Despite the incident of death of 26 people in the terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, the yatra continues in general amid tight security arrangements. The Bhagwati Nagar base camp is kept in multi-level security cordon.
So far, more than three and a half lakh people have registered online for pilgrimage. 34 housing centers have been set up in Jammu and pilgrims are being issued ‘Radio Frequency Identification’ (Radio Frequency Identification or RFID) tags. 12 counters have been set up for registration on the occasion of pilgrims wishing to travel.
Also read: Amarnath Yatra: The beginning of Amarnath Yatra with the departure of pilgrims, Baltal, first batch of devotees from Nunwan base camps
