SRINAGAR : A new batch of 3,554 yatris, including women and sadhus, left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, where about three lakh have had paid obeisance since the commencement of the 55-day-long pilgrimage on June 28.
After briefly recording low arrival of yatris at base camps due to closure of the Srinagar-Jammu national highway because of tense situation at several places following the death of four people in alleged BSF firing at Gool in Ramban, pilgrims from different parts of the country are reaching Kashmir to undertake the pilgrimage.
Officials said in the past two days more than 4,000 pilgrims had arrived from Jammu base camp Bhagwati Nagar.
However, there were other yatris who came of their own or by air, they said.
They said 2039 pilgrims, including 379 women and 13 sadhus left Baltal base camp to reach the cave shrine through shortest hilly route.
From Nunwan Pahalgam 1517 pilgrims, including 249 women and 37 sadhus, left the base camp early this morning for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional track, they said.
Similarly the pilgrims, who had night halt at different halting station on the track also started their onward journey towards the cave shrine this morning.
The number of yatris, who performed obeisance at the cave shrine so far, was much less as compared to last year when a total of more than six lakhs pilgrims had darshan in the Cave.
Those associated with yatra said the number of yatris was less this time because of Uttrakhand death and destructions due to heavy rains last month. (AGENCIES)
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