Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR/JAMMU July 2: The annual Amarnath Ji pilgrimage is witnessing heavy rush as 17,613 yatris drawn from different parts of the country paid obeisance to ice Lingam in the holy cave of Lord Shiva situated at an altitude of 3880 meters in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir’s district of Anantnag on Day four of yatra today.
With this, the total number of pilgrims who paid obeisance in the cave shrine during last four days, has touched 46,795.
According to official sources, thousands of pilgrims are daily reaching the twin base camps of Nunwan in Pahalgam and Baltal in Sonamarg area of Kashmir valley from rest of the country to have the darshan of ‘Bolay Baba.’
Sources said 8,148 pilgrims left from Nunwan base camp via traditional Chandanwari – Sheshnag track for holy cave while 7,652 pilgrims left from 14 kilometers shortest Baltal route for holy cave this morning. The yatra is proceeding smoothly and weather on both the yatra tracks was pleasant today, sources added.
According to Metrology Department, weather on both the tracks will remain pleasant tomorrow also. There is heavy rush of pilgrims at Pahalgam, Baltal, Chandanwari, Shesh-nag and Panchtarni and all these places gave a festive look. While about 3000 pilgrims are camping at Nunwan camps more than this number are putting up in hotels and lodges outside.
Likewise over 5000 pilgrims are camping at Baltal and Sonamarg to proceed for holy cave tomorrow.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 2989 yatris including men, women, children and Sadhus left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas Jammu for holy cave in a cavalcade of 90 vehicles under tight security measures. All these pilgrims crossed Jawahar Tunnel by this afternoon.
According to an official spokesman, two yatri buses developed a snag on the NH but they were replaced by other two buses. These yatris had reached the respective base camps when last reports came in.
As heavy rush of Amarnath pilgrims continued in Winter capital also as fresh 3000 pilgrims and 200 Sadhus were registered in the four current registration centers at Jammu today. It may be recalled that earlier over two lakh pilgrims have been registered at the different registration centers across the country.
The authorities have made elaborate arrangements of boarding and lodging for the pilgrims coming from different parts of country to have darshan of Lord Shiva. Besides the Yatri Niwas, the authorities have made arrangements for them in various community halls and Sabhas including Aasa Ram Bapu Ashram Bhagwati Nagar.
Meanwhile, Additional DC Jammu Arun Manhas, who is Nodal Officer for Amarnath yatra, said that all facilities have been provided to pilgrims at Token Centre in SRTC Community Hall at Railway Head and other places.
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