Srinagar, July 4 -- As the 36-day-long Amarnath Yatra begins, thousands of pilgrims from across India have reached Jammu and Kashmir to undertake the sacred journey to the Amarnath cave shrine. The first batch of Yatris set off from Baltal and Pahalgam base camps early Thursday, while the second batch of 5,246 pilgrims left Jammu's Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in heavily escorted convoys, highlighting heightened security protocols.Devotees expressed deep satisfaction with the arrangements and lauded the Indian Army and administration for their efforts. "The facilities this year are better than ever," said a pilgrim, noting the spiritual nature of the trek and the improved safety measures.The Yatra was flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Mano...