SRINAGAR: Fresh batches of pilgrims left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps early this morning for the holy cave shrine at 13,500 feet in south Kashmir Himalayas.
A Yatra Control Room (YCR) official told UNI that weather was pleasant and yatra was going on smoothly after snow rain and drop in the mercury yesterday.
He said 512 pilgrims, including women and sadhus, paid obeisance yesterday at the cave shrine despite light snowfall and rain. With this, a total of 3,51,300 Yatris have paid obeisance at the Holy Cave. Majority of the pilgrims have since returned to their homes after the darshan.
He said due to snow and rain which resulted in the drop in the mercury, yatra was stopped from Pahalgam yesterday. However, pilgrims who were present at Panjtarni later paid obeisance at the cave shrine in the afternoon after covering the foot distance despite rain.
The YCR official said about 100 pilgrims, including women and sadhus, left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp early this morning for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional 45-km-long track.
Pilgrims who were halted at Chandanwari and other halting stations also moved forward towards the cave shrine early this morning.
He said fresh batch of pilgrims also left Baltal base camp for the holy cave shrine early this morning. The pilgrims, including women, sadhus and children, on dandies and horse back will reach the cave shrine this afternoon to pay obeisance. Pilgrims, who had night halt near cave shrine after paying obeisance yesterday, also started their return journey to base camp this morning. (AGENCIES)
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