The eighth batch of devotees departed from Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam for their pilgrimage to the Holy cave of Amarnath on Thursday morning. The 38-day annual Amarnath pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine in South Kashmir began on July 3 and will conclude on August 9.

Surender, a devotee from Jaipur on his third Amarnath visit, applauded the management for the arrangements. "This is my third visit...The management here is very good. People are cooperating with us a lot...I will pray for the well-being of everyone..." Surender told ANI.

Ambika, another pilgrim, stated that she prayed for the peace and happiness of all during the visit. "The government has made very good arrangements...I will pray for peace and happiness," Ambika told ANI. Meanwhile, free langar (community kitchen) services continue to support pilgrims en route, especially at the Jammu base camp and several locations along the National Highway.