A new batch of 1,261 pilgrims left in Jammu on Friday for onward journey to Amarnath cave shrine amid tight security arrangements.
Comprising 703 men, 300 women, 14 children and 244 sadhus, the batch left from the base camp at Bhagwati Nagar here in a fleet of 35 vehicles around 0930 hours, police said.
Despite melting of the Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva on July 29 at the Amarnath, pilgrims continue to throng the shrine.
The pilgrims were expected to reach their respective destinations of Baltal and Nunwan in Pahalgam base camps in Kashmir by the evening, they said, adding from these camps they will under take journey by foot to the shrine on Saturday.
With today's batch, as many as 80,501 pilgrims have left from here to perform darshan of the Ice Lingam at the 3,888 metres high cave shrine.