SRINAGAR : A fresh batch of about 13000 yatris left this morning from Baltal and Pahalgam base camps for holy Amarnath cave shrine, where about 9000 pilgrims had darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam on the first day of the 48-day-long yatra.
The yatra that started yesterday, is going on smoothly though sky is partly cloudy, providing a pleasant weather to pilgrims who had to cover the hilly distance on foot.
Meanwhile, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) has again appealed to pilgrims to strictly follow the instructions of the board for undertaking the pilgrimage to avoid any inconvenience.
Union minister Rajnath Singh and Governor N N Vohra, who is also chairman of the SASB and Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh had also paid obeisance at the shrine, situated at 13000 feet in south Kashmir Himalyas on the first day of pilgrimage.
A yatra official said that about 7000 pilgrims, including women and sadhus, left Baltal base camp early this morning for the holy cave shrine. The pilgrims are likely to reach the cave this afternoon after the covering the about 14 km distance on foot.
He said pilgrims who had darshan and stayed at the camp near the cave overnight have also started their return journey through this shortest route though some of them had returned yesterday itself after paying obeisance there.
About 6000 pilgrims also left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp this morning for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional yatra route, he said adding some of them preferred to reach there in vehicles while others, including sadhus, covered the distance on foot. Meanwhile, pilgrims who had night halt at Chandanwari have also started their onward journey towards the cave shrine early this morning.
The authorities have made all arrangements, including free langars, water, wash rooms and media facilities at all halting stations besides at cave shrine and both base camps. (AGENCIES)
Follow our WhatsApp channel