A batch of 1,141 pilgrims today left Jammu for the 3,888-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine of Lord Shiva in south Kashmir Himalayas.

Escorted by the Central Reserve Police Force and police, the batch consisting of 759 males, 200 females plus 182 sadhus and sadhvis left in a convoy of 42 vehicles for Baltal and Pahalgam base camps,officials said.

With today's batch, a total of 63,301 pilgrims have left Jammu for the cave shrine in 22 batches since the yatra began from Jammu on June 28.

As many as 2,27,342 pilgrims have paid obeisance at ice lingam of Lord Shiva at Amarnath cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas till last evening.

The number of pilgrims going to Amarnath has been dipping over the last few days.

As many as 4,105 pilgrims left Jammu for Amarnath on July14, followed by 3,398 pilgrims on July 15, 3,603 pilgrims left Jammu on July 16.

A batch of 2,646 pilgrims left Jammu for Amarnath on July17, followed by 2,224 on July 18, 1,877 on July 19 and 1,782 pilgrims on July 20.

The 40-day pilgrimage that started from Jammu on June 28 will conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on August 7.

The government has mobilised a heavy security blanket of over 35,000 to 40,000 troops including the police, the Army,the BSF and CRPF. -- PTI