Fresh batch of 168 pilgrims leaves for Amarnath

A fresh batch of 168 pilgrims on Friday left for the cave shrine of Amarnath in the south Kashmir Himalayas, amid tight security.

The batch comprising 60 men, 16 women and 92 sadhus left in four vehicles from Bhagwati Nagar base camp here at 4.40 AM, a police official said.

Amid tight security arrangements made by CRPF, the pilgrims would reach at the twin base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal by this evening, he said.

Till yesterday, 3,49,720 pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave of Lord Shiva.

With Friday’s batch, 48,702 pilgrims have so far left from the Jammu base camp for the shrine.