The 18th batch of over 5,200 Amarnath pilgrims left from Jammu on July 17 for twin base camps in south Kashmir Himalayas for the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Amarnath, officials said.
A total of 5,284 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in a convoy of 225 vehicles amid heavy security of CRPF, the officials said.
They said that 1,743 pilgrims heading for Baltal were the first to leave in 87 vehicles around 3.20 a.m., followed by the second convoy of 138 vehicles carrying 3,541 pilgrims for Pahalgam at 4.20 a.m.
