Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 1: Despite the inclement weather and drizzling, 15,812 pilgrims performed darshan in the holy cave of Swami Amarnath Ji on the day four of yatra today. With this 50,528 pilgrims have performed darshan of icy Lingam in the cave shrine situated at an altitude of 14,000 feet in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag.
According to an official spokesman the weather from Baltal to holy cave remained over cast with clouds and it drizzled for some time during the day but the yatra went on smoothly.
Spokesman said 10,794 pilgrims left for holy cave from Baltal base camp today. Out of them 9846 left by foot while 848 went by chopper. The yatris after performing darshan started their return journey to Baltal spokesman added.
He said out of 50,528 pilgrims who performed the darshan in holy cave so far, 30,000 have returned to Summer Capital while others were on their way. However no death was reported today. It may be recalled that six yatris died during last three days of yatra while on their way to holy cave.
Meanwhile, the fifth batch of 1243 pilgrims today left for Amarnath shrine from Jammu base camp amid tight security, police said.
The pilgrims comprising 839 men, 283 women, 20 children and 101 sadhus and sadhvis left in a cavalcade of 35 vehicles, including 28 buses and 7 light motor vehicles, from Bhagwati Nagar base camp at around 0400 hours today for Amarnath, a police officer said.
The convoy for the yatra has reached the Manigam camp in Ganderbal district when last reports came wherefrom they will leave for holy cave early in the morning.
With today’s batch, as many as 6,269 pilgrims have left Jammu for their onward journey to the cave shrine.
Despite heavy snowfall during the past winters and consequent implications, the number of yatris paying obeisance at the shrine has been steadily increasing with the commencement of the Yatra on June 28 from Baltal route.
Yesterday, 14,635 yatris paid obeisance, while on June 28 and June 29, 8899 and 11,182 yatris respectively had paid their obeisance, at holy cave.
An official spokesman said that the rush of yatris has considerably increased during last two three days and with the decision of Shrine Board to open the traditional Pahalgam track for pilgrimage from tomorrow morning the rush may increase further.
It may be recalled that the Pahalgam-Chandanwari track was not opened for yatra during first four days by the Shrine Board due to snowy track.
However after reviewing the ground position at a high level meeting yesterday, the Governor N N Vohra who is also the Chairman of the Board decided to open the track on July 2 for pilgrimage.
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