SRINAGAR : The last batch of 31 pilgrims left Baltal base camp for the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas, where Chhari-Mubarak pujan was held on the concluding day of 55-day long pilgrimage which commenced on June 28.
The yatra was stopped from Pahalgam route from August 19 afternoon.
A yatra official told UNI over phone that 31 pilgrims, including 2 women left Baltal base camp for holy cave shrine to join the concluding Puja and pay obeisance.
With this, the yatra concludes with more than 3.5 lakh pilgrims having paid obeisance at the cave shrine.
The number of pilgrims dropped considerably this year as against last year.
Uttrakhand tragedy was being considered as a major factor for drop in the number of pilgrims this time.
However, some of the measures taken by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) for the security of pilgrims, also affected the number of yatris.
The SASB had made it compulsory for all pilgrims to get medically examined by a registered doctor before starting the pilgrimage. It also decided not to allow any unregistered yatri and pilgrims below the age of 13 years or above 75 years.
It is because of these measures the death toll of yatris this time was just 15 against last year’s 120, which evoked massive criticism from religious and political organisations.
(AGENCIES)
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