Fresh batch of 98 pilgrims leaves for Amarnath

Jammu: A batch of 98 pilgrims today left for the cave shrine of Amarnath in the south Kashmir Himalayas, amid tight security. As many as 3,44,517 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave of Lord Shiva till yesterday. The batch comprising 86 men and 12 women left in four vehicles from Bhagwati Nagar base camp here at 4.35 AM, a police official said. Amid tight security arrangements provided by CRPF, the pilgrims would reach their twin base camps at Pahalgam and Baltal by this evening, he said. With today’s batch, as many as 48,320 pilgrims have so far left from the Jammu base camp for the shrine.