12k pilgrims visit Amarnath; 3rd batch of 4.8k leave for ice Shivling darshan

JAMMU: The third batch of 4,812 pilgrims left for Shri Amarnath cave shrine from Yatri Niwas base camp in Jammu amid chants of “Bam Bam Bhole” on Saturday, a day after 12,168 pilgrims paid obeisance to the naturally formed ice Shivling on the opening day of the 57-day annual pilgrimage.“While 2,041 pilgrims took the Baltal route, 2,771 travelled via the Pahalgam route in a convoy of 259 vehicles, including buses and private vehicles under tight security arrangements,” an official said.J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of pilgrims from Jammu base camp early Thursday.Meanwhile, the UT administration on Friday issued an advisory making advance registration mandatory for the yatra.The helicopter services remain suspended this year following the declaration of the entire yatra route as a no-fly zone.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.