Jammu, Jul 31 (IANS): A batch of 591 pilgrims left Jammu on Tuesday for the Kashmir Valley to take part in the Amarnath Yatra that has already seen over 2.62 lakh pilgrims pay their obeisance at the holy cave shrine.

The pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here in an escorted convoy of 19 vehicles and headed towards the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps, police said.

In the last 34 days since June 28, when the pilgrimage started a total of 2,62,314 pilgrims have performed this year's Yatra.

In 2017, only 2,60,003 pilgrims had performed the Amarnath Yatra during the 40 days that it was officially allowed.

This year's 60-day long Amarnath Yatra will end on August 26 coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival.

There is a growing opinion among various stakeholders, including the service providers engaged in organising the Yatra that the pilgrimage should be restricted to 30 days as over 90 per cent pilgrims complete their pilgrimage in first month itself.

This fact is supported by data collected during the last four years.