Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 29: Braving inclement weather in the morning and cold wave, over 7000 pilgrims drawn from different parts of country paid obeisance at the holy cave of Swami Amarnath Ji situated in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag on the 31st day of 52-day long pilgrimage today.
According to officials, amid inclement weather and downpour in the morning which disrupted the yatra for some time 7556 pilgrims drawn from different parts of the country performed darshan at holy cave from twin tracks of Baltal -Sonamarg and Nunwan- Pahalgam besides chopper services by this evening.
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Officials said the temperature has also dipped in Yatra area due to morning rainfall. However, yatra proceeded smoothly later during the day from both the tracks.
Among the 7556 pilgrims who paid obeisance at cave shrine today included 4364 male 1791 female 106 children, 148 Sadhus and 1147 security personnel and service providers. With this, a total number of pilgrims visited the holy cave in last 31 days since the 52-day long pilgrimage started on June 29 has reached 4,66,342, officials said, adding 22 deaths were reported so far and maximum of them died of cardiac arrest enroute to the cave shrine.
Officials said the pilgrims who performed darshan at holy cave today started their return journey towards the Baltal base camp and Panchtarni haltage camp enroute to Pahalgam. Maximum of the pilgrims among the 4.66 lakh devotees who performed darshan at cave shrine so far have returned to their home States while others are on the way.
Officials said the pilgrims who reached at twin base camps yesterday started their onwards journey to holy cave early this morning. Officials said 4063 pilgrims had reached Domail by this evening after performing darshan at holy cave today.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 1832 pilgrims left for twin base camps of Nunwan-Pahalgam in South Kashmir district of Anantnag and Baltal, Sonamarg in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district in a cavalcade of 62 heavy and light motor vehicles under tight security arrangements early this morning from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here. This was 32nd batch of pilgrims from here as the first batch was flagged off on June 28.
These pilgrims included 1358 males, 338 females, two children, 97 Sadhus and 12 Sadhvis. Among them 569 pilgrims preferred the shortest but tough Baltal-Domail track while 1263 opted for the longest but traditional Pahalgam -Chandanwari route. These pilgrims have reached their destinations by this evening where from they will leave for holy cave early tomorrow morning.
The 52-day long yatra to 3888 meter Himalayan cave will culminate on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival falling on August 19 when holy mace led by Mahant Deependra Giri Ji its sole custodian will reach the cave shrine from its abode Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar.
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