Jammu and Kashmir Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on Wednesday flagged off the first batch of Yatris for this year's Amarnath Yatra from Jammu for the Valley as the 36-day long pilgrimage begins on Thursday.

Amid slogans of 'Bharat Mata Ki Jai', 'Bum Bum Bhole' and 'Barfani Baba Ne Bulaya Hai', enthusiastic Yatris from different parts of the country left in two escorted convoys from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas on Canal Road in Jammu for the two Yatra base camps of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district.