Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 17: Forward movement of yatris to holy Amarnath cave shrine resumed from both Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps after remaining suspended for few hours in the morning due to heavy rains today.
According to an official spokesman the yatra was delayed from both Baltal and Chandanwari base camps to holy cave due to inclement weather in the morning and the first batch of pilgrims was allowed to move towards holy cave at 7.10 am from Baltal and 9 am from Chandanwari.
The spokesman said despite the inclement weather on yatra routes to holy cave 10,536 pilgrims paid obeisance at cave shrine today. With this a total number of 2,65, 489 pilgrims have paid obeisance in the holy cave since the 45 day yatra started on June 28 from Baltal Base Camp.
Spokesman said 4856 pilgrims left from Nunwan Chandanwari to holy cave this morning while 7424 left from Baltal to cave shrine. The pilgrims having night halt at Sheshnag and Panchtarni also left for holy cave after improvement in weather. He said pilgrimage was suspended this morning following heavy rains and poor visibility in the morning.
However, after some improvement in the weather, fresh batch of yatris, including women and Sadhus, left Baltal base camp for the cave shrine at 0730 hrs.
Similarly, yatra was resumed from Nunwan- Pahalgam base camp at 0800 hrs, they said, adding that pilgrims, who had night halt at different halting station on traditional Pahalgam route, have also started their journey towards the cave shrine, he added.
The spokesman said that one yatri named as Champa Nari Manohar Lal, S/o Natha Lal of Ahmedabad Gujarat died at holy cave this evening due to cardiac arrest. With this total number of pilgrims who died during on going yatra ahs touched 26.
Meanwhile 1255 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar Jammu Yatri Niwas for holy cave early this morning in a cavalcade of 38 vehicles.
They included 867 male, 239 female, 10 children and 125 Sadhus. All the pilgrims had reached their respective destinations in Kashmir Valley where from they will leave for onwards sojourn early tomorrow morning.
However hundreds of yatris drenched in the rain today while waiting for their registration at various registration counters here due to poor arrangements of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB).
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