Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 21: A fresh batch of 13,221 pilgrims performed darshan on 25th day of 39 day long pilgrimage at holy cave of Swami Amarnath in South Kashmir district of Anantnag today.
With this the total number of pilgrims visiting the cave shrine since the commencement of yatra on June 25 has touched 5,62,673. Over 5.49 lac pilgrims had performed darshan till late last night in holy cave.
One more pilgrim identified as H P Bayani, 65 son of Parsuram of Asha Nagar MP died at Brarimarg this afternoon due to cardiac arrest, officials said. With this the death toll in ongoing yatra has reached 91, they added.
The officials said 2,204 pilgrims left for holy cave via 16 kilometre shortest Baltal track while 5,935 pilgrims from Nunwan-Pahalgam Base camp left via traditional Chandanwari track.
The weather was pleasant at Nunwan-Pahalgam and Chandanwari while it was partially cloudy at Sheshnag, Panjtarni, Baltal and holy cave, the officials said.
A Met Department spokesman said here today that the sky will remain cloudy on both Baltal and Pahalgam tracks and there could be rain or thundershowers during the next 24 hours.
Officials said those yatris who had night halt at different halting stations enroute also started their onward journey this morning while those who had darshan also started their return journey. They said 1,024 pilgrims are staying at holy cave and they will perform darshan early next morning.
Majority of those who had darshan of the self made Ice-Shivalingam have returned to their homes. The pilgrimage was going on smoothly from both sides, the officials added.
Meanwhile amid tight security, a fresh batch of 1,493 pilgrims today left for Amarnath cave shrine from here.
The pilgrims comprising 885 men, 291 women, 27 children and 290 Sadhus left in a cavalcade of 48 vehicles from Bhagwati Nagar Base Camp in Jammu at around 0500 hours for the high holy cave, officials said.
With today’s batch, as many as 86,268 pilgrims have left Jammu for their onward journey to Amarnath shrine.
The 39 day long pilgrimage of Swami Amarnath situated at the height of 3,888 metres will culminate on Swan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan on August 2 when holy mace of Lord Shiva will reach the cave shrine.
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