JAMMU, July 13, 2013: Over 2.18 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas even as a batch of 1,280 devotees left for their onward journey from here on Saturday.

Over 2,14,118 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave shrine of Amarnath till last evening, yatra officials said, adding 3,945 pilgrims have left this morning for their onward journey taking the total number of the pilgrims to 2,18,063.

A convoy of 42 vehicles, carrying the 17th batch of 1,280 devotees, left the Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar at around 4.45am to pay obeisance at Amarnath, police said.

The devotees included 934 men, 238 women and 12 children, apart from 96 priests, they added.

With today's batch, a total of 35,974 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp for Amarnath so far.

Source: The Times of India, DT. July 13, 2013.