JAMMU: A fresh batch of 964 pilgrims undertaking the Shri Amarnath Yatra left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu for the Baltal base camp in the early hours of Tuesday under tight security arrangements.
According to the Zonal Police Control Room, Jammu, the 27th batch departed at 3.05 a.m. in a convoy of 39 vehicles, including 21 buses, eight medium motor vehicles and 10 light motor vehicles.
The batch comprised 744 men, 177 women, one child, 32 sadhus and 10 sadhvis.
With the departure of the latest batch, the cumulative number of pilgrims who have left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp during the ongoing Yatra has reached 1,41,712, officials said.
Meanwhile, the 25th down convoy carrying returning pilgrims also left the Baltal base camp for Jammu on Tuesday.
Officials said 2,073 pilgrims, including 1,552 men, 461 women, 11 children, 41 sadhus and eight sadhvis, travelled in the return convoy.
The convoy comprised 63 vehicles, including 42 heavy motor vehicles, six medium motor vehicles, 14 light motor vehicles and one truck.
Officials said the annual pilgrimage was continuing smoothly under multi-layer security arrangements, with both upward and downward convoys moving according to schedule.
