SRINAGAR:Fresh batches of yatris left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps for the holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, where over one lakh pilgrims had darshan of the self-made Ice-Shivlingam since the commencement of the 59-day-long yatra from July 2.
The pilgrimage from both shortest Baltal and traditional Pahalgam tracks was going on smoothly though weather was cloudy, a yatra official told.
Yesterday, 19,911 paid obeisance at the holy cave and had darshan of the Ice-Shivlingam. With this, a total of 1,04,918 yatris, including women, sadhus and children from different parts of the country, had paid obeisance during the first seven days of the pilgrimage.
However, the number of pilgrims paying obeisance at the cave shrine was four to five thousands, more than the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has agreed to be allowed to undertake the yatra in a single day. As per the Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) framed on the directions of Supreme Court, only 15,000 registered are allowed beyond Pahalgam and Baltal base camp in a day.
The official said fresh batch of pilgrims left for Chandandwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional 45-km-long track early this morning. Though some of the pilgrims will stay at Chandanwari, others will start their foot journey towards the next halting station on the track, which is still under snow at several places. It is said that the track at several places has become slippery after the snow started melting due to increase in the temperature. However, pilgrims are being helped to cross these particular areas.
Similarly yatris, including women, sadhus and children, left Batlal base camp for the Cave shrine early this morning. The pilgrims will reach the cave shrine after after covering the 14-km-long track on foot. Meanwhile, pilgrims, who had night halt at the cave shrine after having darshan yesterday, have also started their return journey through this shortest route. Majority of more than one lakh pilgrims, who had darshan at the cave shrine, returned to their homes, while some of them are visiting tourist places in the valley. (AGENCIES)
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