The annual Amarnath yatra today began as the first batch of pilgrims left for the cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas from the Bhagwati Nagar base-camp, Jammu, amid tight security. The first batch consisting of 2,294 pilgrims was flagged off around 5 am in the morning by the state Minister for Tourism, Nawang Rigzin Jora and Chief Minister's Political Advisor, Devinder Rana.

The first batch of pilgrims included 1,469 males, 476 females, 108 children and 241 sadhus, who left in 64 vehicles amid mobile security escort of CRPF.