SRINAGAR: Despite rain, pilgrimage was progressing smoothly to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, where so far, about 1.58 lakh yatris have paid obeisance since the commencement of the 40-day-long yatra from June 29.
Fresh batches of pilgrims, including women and sadhus, left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps early this morning despite rain during the night and cloudy sky today, a yatra official said.
He said yesterday, 10,926 pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine from both shortest Baltal and traditional Pahalgam tracks. With this, a total of 1,57,618 pilgrims had darshan of the self made ice-shivlingam so far. Pilgrims, who had night halt at Panjtarni on traditional route, are arriving to pay obeisance at cave shrine since this morning.
Majority of the pilgrims had since returned to their homes. However, 21 of the yatris had lost their lives during the pilgrimage, including seven who were killed in a militant attack on their bus on Srinagar-Jammu national highway at Batangoo Anantnag on July 10.
The attack evoked massive condemnation in Kashmir and across the country and abroad.
The yatra official said that about 4,000 pilgrims had arrived at base camps at Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam yesterday from Jammu.
A fresh batch of yatris left Baltal for the cave shrine early this morning. The pilgrims are expected to reach the cave shrine, situated at 14,000 feet in the afternoon after covering the 14 km hilly terrain on foot.
Majority of the yatris will try to return to base camp after paying obeisance while other will have night stay in the camp near the cave shrine. Meanwhile, pilgrims, who had reached the cave from traditional track, are also preferring to return via Baltal track.
He said fresh batch of pilgrims, who had night halt at Nunwan Pahalgam base camp, also left for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional track.
Meanwhile, pilgrims, who had night halt at different halting stations on the traditional route, have also started their foot journey towards the cave shrine this morning. (AGENCIES)
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