Srinagar : Lowest number of about 800 pilgrims left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps for the holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, where about 95,000 yatris had paid obeisance so far till Monday morning.
Meanwhile, over 7000 pilgrims, including women and Sadhus, left Jammu early Monday morning for Baltal and Nunwan base camps in Kashmir.
Yesterday, 11,282 pilgrims had paid obeisance at the cave shrine till last night and more pilgrims are reaching cave shrine from nearby halting station to have the darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam on Monday.
For security reasons yatri vehicles were not allowed to operate on the Srinagar-Jammu national highway, the only road linking the Kashmir valley with the rest of the country on Sunday following strike called by separatists on the second death anniversary of Hizbul Mujahideen (HM) commander Burhan Wani who was killed in an encounter by security forces on July 8, 2016 in Anantnag.
”We did not allow any yatri and security force vehicle to ply on the highway for security reasons yesterday due to which very less number of pilgrims were at Baltal and Pahalgam base camps,” official sources told UNI.
However, vehicles ferrying over 7,000 pilgrims left Jammu for Kashmir early Monday morning, they said.
Over 700 pilgrims, who night halt at Baltal base camp, left for holy cave shrine through shortest track early Monday morning. The yatris will reach the cave this afternoon after covering the 14-km-long hilly track on foot, they said adding pilgrims who had night halt there (cave) also started their return journey to base camp.
Similarly over 50 pilgrims left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional route this morning. Meanwhile, pilgrims who had night halt at Chandanwari and other halting stations have also started foot journey towards cave shrine Monday morning.
A Raj Bhawan spokesman said on Sunday 11,282 yatris paid obeisance at Holy Cave and till date 94,412 Yatris had the darshan of the Shivling during the first 11 days.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) Umang Narula said that Micro ATM of J&K Bank has distributed more than Rs 3.62 lakh cash since Saturday to pilgrims at Panjtarni and work of putting wire mesh at vulnerable spots between Railpathri and Brarimarg is progressing at desired pace. (Agencies)
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