Avtar Bhat
SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, July 14: There has been a slight decline in the number of yatris visiting holy cave since last few days. The number of pilgrims paying obeisance at the cave shrine which was about 15,000 daily during the first fortnight has suddenly come down to 11,000 in the second fortnight.
The cause for the decreasing number of pilgrims is attributed to opening of educational institutions all over the country after summer break as well as strict restrictions imposed by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) on the darshan of unregistered yatris due to which a large number of pilgrims also returned without performing darshan during the first fortnight.
On the 17th day of yatra today, which started on June 28 with pratham darshan, a total number of 10,963 pilgrims performed darshan in holy cave situated at an altitude of 3,880 metres in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag.
With this, the total number of pilgrims performing the darshan in cave shrine has reached 2,36,501 an official spokesman said.
He said till yesterday evening 2,25,538 pilgrims had performed darshan in the holy cave. Among them, majority of pilgrims had returned to their home States while others are on their way.
The spokesman said the yatra is proceeding smoothly and weather is also pleasant.
He said 3,689 pilgrims left from Nunwan-Pahalgam base camp to holy cave via traditional Chandanwari track under tight security arrangement this morning while 3,436 pilgrims left from Baltal base camp via shorter track. Besides, 1,464 pilgrims left by air to holy cave, the spokesman added.
He said the pilgrims who had stayed for night at Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panjtarni halting stations also left for their onwards journey in the morning. While the pilgrims who left Panchtarni this morning had reached the holy cave and were on their way back after performing darshan, the pilgrims who started their journey from Chandanwari and Sheshnag will have a night halt at the next halting stations.
The spokesman said a fresh batch of 1,363 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu base camp for holy cave early this morning in a cavalcade of 44 vehicles under tight security arrangements. They included 988 male, 299 female, 26 children and 50 Sadhus. The convoy had crossed the Jawahar tunnel by the evening and where on their way to Nunwan- Pahalgam and Baltal base camps where from they will leave for holy cave early tomorrow morning.
This was the 18th batch of pilgrims from Jammu since the first batch left Bhagwati Nagar base camp on June 27.
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