The pilgrimage is now on the verge of crossing the 4.5 lakh mark despite weather-related disruptions and temporary suspension on several occasions due to landslides and restoration works along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway. Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 1,795 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu for the Baltal base camp in the early hours of Thursday under stringent multi-layer security arrangements. According to details, the 23rd batch departed at 2:44 am in a convoy of 83 vehicles, comprising 41 buses, 11 medium motor vehicles (MMVs), 30 light motor vehicles (LMVs) and one two-wheeler. The batch included 1,406 male pilgrims and 389 female pilgrims, while no pilgrims were scheduled to travel via the Pahalgam route on Thursday. The total number of pilgrims who have left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for this Amarnath Yatra has reached 1,34,201.