India, July 8 -- A fresh batch of 7,541 pilgrims set off early Tuesday from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here towards the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.

The 38-day annual pilgrimage, which commenced on July 3, is being conducted via two routes - the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam track in Anantnag district and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 9.

According to officials, over 94,000 devotees have so far offered prayers at the holy cave shrine since the yatra began.

On Tuesday, the seventh batch comprising 5,516 men and 1,765 women left Jammu between 2.55 am and 4.05 am in 309 vehicles amid a multi-layered...