JOIN USA batch of 1,141 pilgrims today left Jammu for the 3,888-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine of Lord Shiva in south Kashmir Himalayas.
Escorted by the CRPF and police, the batch consisting of 759 males, 200 females plus 182 sadhus and sadhvis left in a convoy of 42 vehicles for Baltal and Pahalgam base camps, officials said.
With today's batch, a total of 63,301 pilgrims have left Jammu for the cave shrine in 22 batches since the yatra began from here on June 28.
As many as 2,27,342 pilgrims have paid obeisance at Ice Lingum of Lord Shiva at Amarnath cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas till last evening.
There has been decrease in the number of the pilgrims visiting cave shrine of Amarnath in the past one week.
The government has mobilised a heavy security blanket of over 35,000 to 40,000 troops including the police, the Army, the BSF and CRPF.
The annual yatra began this year amid a terror threat, with intelligence reports warning of probable attack which prompted the authorities to mobilise the "highest level" of security, including satellite tracking system.
This years yatra will be eight days shorter than the last years 48 days. It will conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on August 7.
Situated in a narrow gorge at the farther end of Lidder Valley, Amarnath shrine is 46 km from Pahalgam and 14 km from Baltal.