Srinagar, July 4 -- The first batch of Amarnath yatries performed dharshan of the Shiv Lingam at the holy cave.

Official figures reveal that 12,348 performed dharshan till 6 PM today. The pilgrims also return to their base camp at Baltal.

Earlier, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, flagged the first batch of pilgrims from Domail, Baltal in Ganderbal.

The Baltal base camp echoed with chants of "Bam Bam Bhole" and "Har Har Mahadev", as thousands of ecstatic pilgrims, including men, women, elderly devotees, and sadhus, set off on their sacred journey to the Holy Cave Shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji.

"This Yatra is not just a religious Yatra. It is a Yatra of the people. Security forces, 'pitthus', tent every service provide...