Amarnath Yatra 2017: Batch of 1,141 pilgrims leaves Jammu for cave shrine amid tight security

Jammu: A fresh batch of over 1,141 pilgrims set out from here for the Amarnath Yatra on Friday amid tight security, an official said. [caption id=“attachment_3804007” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Representational image. PTI[/caption] “Another batch of 1,141 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas at 2.50 am in an escorted convoy of 46 vehicles for the Kashmir Valley”, he said. This was the 23rd day since the pilgrimage to the Himalayan cave shrine began. So far, 2.35 lakh pilgrims have performed the yatra that started on 29 June. Every day the pilgrims have to start their journey early as no vehicles carrying pilgrims are allowed to cross the Jawahar Tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar highway after 3.30 pm due to security reasons. The precaution was taken to ensure that the pilgrims reach the base camps of Baltal in the north and Pahalgam in the south of the Kashmir Valley before sunset. From the two base camps, the pilgrims have to track treacherous mountain tracks. The traditional Pahalgam route is 46 km long and takes around four days. While the one from Baltal is 14 km. The yatris who use the Baltal route return to the base camp the same day after paying obeisance inside the cave shrine. Helicopter services are also available for pilgrims on both routes.