The 30th batch of 4,355 Amarnath pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for the twin base camps of of Pahalgam and Baltal in Kashmir on Wednesday, officials said. The pilgrims left in a convoy of 166 vehicles amid heavy CRPF cover, they said.

Officials said 1,846 pilgrims heading for Baltal were the first to leave the Bhagwati Nagar camp in 72 vehicles followed by the second convoy of 94 vehicles carrying 2,509 pilgrims for Pahalgam. With this, a total of 1,20,011 pilgrims have left from the Jammu base camp for the Valley since June 29. Over 2 lakh pilgrims have so far offered their prayers at the cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.