In Jammu and Kashmir, the 26th batch of over 2,100 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Base Camp in  Jammu in the wee hours today in order to offer prayers at the 3,880-metre high cave shrine of Shri Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas. Our correspondent reports that a total of 2,189 pilgrims, the lowest till date this year, left in a convoy of 73 vehicles amid heavy security of the Central Reserve Police Force. Eight hundred and fifteen pilgrims heading for Baltal were the first to leave the Jammu Base Camp in 23 vehicles, followed by the second convoy of 49 vehicles carrying 1,374 pilgrims for Pahalgam.<br />''<br />''Worth to mention, the number of pilgrims visiting the cave shrine has drastically fallen in past two days. The 43-day Annual Yatra commenced from the twin Base Camps of Nunwan, Pahalgam in Anantnag and Baltal in Ganderbal districts on 30th of June.<br />''<br />''Till date, over 2.30 lakh pilgrims have offered their prayers at the cave shrine, housing the naturally formed Ice Shivlingam. Since 29th of June, 1,37,774 pilgrims have left from the Bhagwati Nagar Base Camp, Jammu for the valley. The Annual Yatra is scheduled to end on 11th of August on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. However, thirty six pilgrims have died during the ongoing Yatra while another 15 pilgrims died in the flashfloods near the Amarnath cave shrine on 1st of July. <br />