Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 19: As many as 5829 pilgrims today paid obeisance to Lord Shiva at holy cave shrine of Shri Amarnath ji taking total number of pilgrims having darshan of the Ice Lingam so far in the past 18 days to 2.44 lakh.
Though Baltal road has been restored after three days of closure, the pilgrims reached base camp of Baltal late tonight due to massive traffic jam at Sonamarg. Fresh batch of pilgrims left for the holy cave today only from Nunwan, Pahalgam and not from Baltal.
Official sources said a total of 5829 pilgrims today performed darshan of holy Ice Lingam at Shri Amarnath Ji cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas. With this, total number of yatris, who have paid obeisance to Lord Shiva during 18 days of yatra, has gone up to 2,44,855.
Of 5829 yatris, who had darshan today, 4412 were male, 1107 female, 167 children and 143 Sadhus.
“There have been total of 23 deaths so far,’’ sources said.
The yatra was progressing smoothly from traditional Nunwan, Pahalgam track while there were no cave bound yatris at Baltal today morning due to closure of roads for past three days. The yatris reached Baltal from Jammu late tonight and they will proceed to the cave shrine tomorrow morning.
However, the yatris, who were stranded at Baltal after performing yatra, returned today towards Jammu. There was huge traffic jam near Sonamarg on Baltal route as large number of stranded pilgrims were heading back.
It may be mentioned that road on way to Baltal was washed away three days back due to cloudburst leading to suspension of yatra to Baltal. The communication links to Baltal were also snapped.
Meanwhile, a total of 1514 pilgrims today left Yatri Niwas base camp in Jammu for Pahalgam and Baltal. They included 1059 male, 297 females, 11 children and 147 Sadhus. They left in a convoy of 44 vehicles under tight security arrangements from here this morning.
The yatra had reached Nunwan in Pahalgam and Baltal late tonight. These yatris will leave for the cave shrine tomorrow morning.
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