The first batch of more than 4,800 pilgrims leaves Jammu to begin the annual Amarnath yatra, officials said. The group departs as a convoy of 259 light and heavy vehicles, which are used to transport pilgrims along the yatra routes. Officials add that security arrangements for the pilgrimage are stepped up to support the movement of the convoy and to manage the route during the start of the season. The flag-off marks the beginning of the first phase of the trek toward the Amarnath shrine, with additional batches expected to follow in subsequent schedules. The administration and security agencies coordinate to ensure the convoy proceeds through designated stretches, with measures in place to address safety and crowd management concerns. The yatra is conducted under heightened monitoring due to the religious significance of the event and the challenging terrain and weather conditions associated with the pilgrimage route.