Jammu and Kashmir, July 2 -- Security has been heightened along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) as the Shri Amarnath Yatra commenced on Wednesday. The first batch of pilgrims was flagged by Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor (LG) Manoj Sinha. The official start of the Yatra will take place on July 3, with pilgrims travelling via both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes.

Before the flag-off, LG Sinha offered prayers at the Yatri Niwas base camp in Jammu. As the pilgrims began their journey, the air was resonated with chants of 'Har Har Mahadev' and 'Bam Bam Bhole.'

Reacting to the commencement of the Amarnath Yatra, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Sat Sharma said, "Thousands of devotees have come here for Baba Amarnath Dars...