Fresh batch of pilgrims leaves for holy Cave

Fresh batch of pilgrims today left Baltal and Pahalgam base camps for the holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, where so far over 2.44 lakh yatris had paid obeisance since the commencement of the 40-day yatra from June 29. Weather is pleasant and yatra is progressing smoothly from both shortest Baltal and traditional Pahaglam tracks, a yatra official told UNI this morning.

He said 678 pilgrims, including women and sadhus, left Bagwati Nagar, Jammu base camp for Baltal and Nunwan Phalgam base camps early this morning under unprecedented security arrangements. He said yesterday on the 26th day of yatra, 4,014 Yatris yatris paid obeisance at the Holy Cave. With this, a total of over 2,44,263 lakh yatris had the darshan at the Holy Cave till this morning. Meanwhile, pilgrims, who had left Panjtarni after night halt, are paying obeisance since early this morning after covering two km distance on foot, he said.

He said a fresh batch of yatris also left Baltal base camp to reach the cave shrine. The pilgrims are expected to reach the cave shrine, situated at 14,000 feet in the afternoon after covering 14 km hilly terrain on foot. Majority of yatris will try to return to base camp today itself after paying obeisance while others will prefer to have night stay at the camp near the cave shrine.

Meanwhile, majority pilgrims, who had preferred to reach the cave shrine from traditional track, are also returning via Baltal track. Similarly, fresh batch of pilgrims, who had a night halt at Nunwan Pahalgam base camp, also left for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional track. Meanwhile, pilgrims who had night halt at different halting stations on the traditional route, have also started their foot journey towards the cave shrine this morning.