Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 5: More than 21,000 yatris paid obeisance at Shri Amarnath Ji cave on seventh day of pilgrimage today while the eighth batch of 6919 pilgrims left from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here for twin base camps of Baltal in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district and Nunwan Pahalgam in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district under tight security arrangements early this morning in cavalcade of 259 light and heavy vehicles.
Officials said 21,686 pilgrims drawn from different parts of the country performed darshan of naturally formed Ice Shivlingam in Himalayan cave situated at an altitude of 3888 meters. These yatris came from twin tracks of Baltal and Chandanwri. Besides, hundreds of pilgrims also visited via choppers to holy cave.
Officials said the total number of 1,52,946 pilgrims visited the holy cave in first week since the 52 day long yatra started on June 29.
Officials said that weather remained overcast with clouds in entire yatra area today and in the evening it drizzled at holy cave and yatra area. However, the pilgrimage plied peacefully throughout the day.
The pilgrims after performing darshan left for the Baltal base camp and Panchtarni to return to their home States. No pilgrim is allowed to stay near cave shrine or lower cave keeping in view their security and safety.
The Yatris who had reached the twin base camps of Baltal and Nunwan -Pahalgam yesterday left for the holy cave early in the morning. While those who left from shortest Baltal track performed darshan at cave shrine by this evening were on their way back to base camp and those who left via Chandnwari track will stay for two nights at Sheshnag and Panchtarni before reaching cave shrine for darshan.
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Meanwhile, thousands of pilgrims including Sadhus are reaching here from different parts of the country for their onwards sojourn to holy cave.
Officials said over 4000 pilgrims reached Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas by this evening while thousands of pilgrims were seen waiting for registration at Saraswati Dham and Vaishnavi Dham near Railway Station. The Yatris who made their entry in Yatri Niwas today will leave for twin base camps of Kashmir early tomorrow morning.
Among 6919 pilgrims who left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas early this morning, 2542 pilgrims preferred the shortest Baltal track while 4377 opted the traditional and longest Pahalgam -Chandanwari route.
All the yatris have reached their respective destinations by this evening wherefrom they will leave for holy cave early tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, according to an advisory issued by Highway Police, no Yatra or tourist vehicle will be allowed to cross the Banihal -Qazigund (Navyug) tunnel towards Kashmir after 3 pm. Similarly no vehicle will be allowed to move from Pahalgam to Jammu after 3.30 pm and from Sonamarg to Srinagar after 4 pm.
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