The fifth batch of 1,243 pilgrims left for Amarnath shrine from Jammu base camp amid tight security on Tuesday, said a police official. The pilgrims comprising 839 men, 283 women, 20 children and 101 sadhus and sadhvis left in a cavalcade of 35 vehicles, including 28 buses and 7 light motor vehicles, from Bhagwati Nagar base camp at around 4am, said a police officer.
Meanwhile, over 37,000 yatris in total have had the'darshan' of the ice lingam at the holy cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas till Tuesday morning and, over 2,500 pilgrims had 'darshan' on Tuesday.
With today's batch, as many as 6,269 pilgrims have left from here for their onward journey to the cave shrine.
Despite heavy snowfall during the past winters and consequent implications, the number of yatris paying obeisance at the shrine has been steadily increasing with the commencement of the Yatra on June 28 from Baltal route.
On Monday, 14,635 yatris paid obeisance, while on June 28 and June 29, 8899 and 11,182 yatris, respectively, paid their obeisance, said a spokesman.