18th batch of pilgrims leaves for Amarnath shrine from Jammu

Jammu, July 7 (PTI) Braving curfew and blockades at
several places along the Jammu-Srinagar highway, another batch
of 1718 pilgrims Sunday left this city for the Amarnath cave
shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas.

The batch comprising 1,074 males, 4,65 women and 49
children, left in 49 vehicles including 38 buses and 10 lmvs
and one truck from the Bhagwati nagar base camp here around
5:30 am and are being escorted by C.R.P.F. personnel,
officials told P.T.I.

The cavalcade carrying the pilgrims have crossed
Batote on the highway and will reach Pahalgam and Baltal base
camps in Kashmir valley by this evening, they said.

A total of 41,531 pilgrims have so far left the base
camp here to the lord Shiva temple since commencement of the
pilgrimage on June 17.

The yatra was suspended four times due to bad weather
and heavy rush of pilgrims on June 20, 25, 27 and 29. PTI