Jammu, July 4 -- The third batch of over 6,400 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu in two separate convoys on Friday to join the annual Amarnath pilgrimage in the Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.

About 14,000 pilgrims have prayed at the 3,880 metre-high cave shrine since Thursday when the 38-day annual yatra commenced from Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district - the two conventional tracks -, officials said.

The third batch of 6,411 pilgrims - 4,723 men, 1,071 women, 37 children, and 580 sadhus and sadhvis - left in 291 vehicles, they said.

The batch left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in two groups for Baltal and Pahalgam at 3.15 am and 4 am, escorted by CRPF.

While 3,622 pilgrims took the 4...