The first batch of 2995 pilgrims for annual Shri Amarnathji Yatra was flagged off by Advisors to the Governor B.B Vyas and K Vijay Kumar in presence of Chief Secretary, BVR Subrahmanyam, here this morning from Yatra base camp Bhagwati Nagar. Speaking on the occasion, Advisor BB Vyas said that coordinated efforts have been put in place by the concerned agencies to ensure smooth and safe conduct of the Yatra.''Amarnath Yatra is a very significant annual event. With the cooperation of public, security agencies and development agencies, we have put a scheme in place and are trying our best to address concerns of the yatris and ensure smooth flow of traffic,’’ Advisor, Vijay Kumar said.The pilgrims from across the country comprising a batch of 2,995 persons left the base camp at around 4:30 AM in a fleet of 109 vehicles including 57 HMVs, 52 LMVs and four motorcycles for onward journey to cave shrine through traditional Pahalgam and Baltal routes.Around 1,904 pilgrims opted for traditional Pahalgam route while 1,091 choose the Baltal route to reach the Himalayan cave shrine in South Kashmir. The batch comprised of 2,334 men, 520 women, 21 children and 120 Sadhus.Legislators, Devender Singh Rana, Vikram Randhawa, senior civil and police officers besides a large number of civil society members and representatives of religious organizations were present on the occasion.Meanwhile, the Divisional Administration, Tourism Department and other agencies associated with the yatra arrangements, besides the volunteers of Civil Defence have made adequate arrangements to provide lodging, transportation, medicare, food, and clean drinking water, sanitation etc at the Jammu base camp and along the yatra route for the convenience of the pilgrims.