Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 28: On the 30th day of darshan 1571 pilgrims paid their obeisance at holy cave of Swami Amarnath today. With this the total number of pilgrims performing darshan at cave shrine in last one month has touched 2,50,326.
According to an official spokesman 800 pilgrims left for holy cave from twin base camps of Nunwan, Pahalgam in South Kashmir district of Anantnag and Baltal, Sonamarg in Central Kashmir district of Ganderbal for holy cave.
Among them 512 yatris left via shortest 14 km Domel track from Baltal base camp while 354 left from traditional 46 km long Chandanwari-Sheshnag track for holy cave. Besides, the pilgrims stationed at halting stations of Sheshnag and Panchtarni also left for the onwards sojourn this morning.
Meanwhile a fresh batch of 393 pilgrims today left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas Jammu for the 3,888-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine of Lord Shiva in South Kashmir Himalayas, amid tight security.
Escorted by the CRPF and the police, the 28th batch consisting of 294 males, 52 females plus 47 Sadhus and Sadhvis left in a convoy of nine vehicles for Baltal and Pahalgam base-camps of the shrine this morning, officials said.
With today’s batch, a total of 68,299 pilgrims have left Jammu for Amarnath since the yatra began from Jammu on June 28.
The number of pilgrims this year has crossed last year’s figures. As many as 2,49,755 pilgrims have visited the cave shrine till last evening, a senior official said.
The Government has mobilised a heavy security blanket of over 35,000 to 40,000 troops including the police, the Army, the BSF and the CRPF.
This year’s yatra will be eight days shorter than the last year’s 48 days and will conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on August 7.
Situated in a narrow gorge at the farther end of Lidder Valley, Amarnath shrine is 46 km from Pahalgam and 14 km from Baltal.
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