SRINAGAR : Undeterred by rain and cloudy weather, fresh batches of pilgrims left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps for the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas,where over 3,18 yatris had paid obeisance since the commencement of the annual yatra from July 2.
The number of yatris, however, have started decreasing now as lowest number of 2753 pilgrims paid their obeisance since the commencement of the 59-day-long yatra which will conclude on August 29, Raksha bandban.
A Yatra Control Room (YCR) official told UNI that about 600 pilgrims, including women, sadhus and children, left Baltal base camp for the holy cave shrine despite wet weather.
”Bam Bam Bolay” and ”Har Har Mahadev” rented the air as the yatris left Baltal despite intermittent rain the official said, adding the yatris were expected to cover the 16-km-long distance on foot before paying obeisance at the cave shrine, situated at 13500 feet.
Similarly yatris, who had night halt near the cave shrine after having darshan, have also started their return journey to Baltal base camp. Majority pilgrims, who are undertaking the pilgrimage to holy cave through traditional Pahalgam route are also preferring to return via shortest Baltal track.
The official said fresh batches of pilgrims also left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional route. Though majority of the pilgrims will start their foot journey towards the next halting station, some will prefer to stay there.
Similarly pilgrims, who had night halt at Chandanwari and other halting station have also started their journey towards the cave shrine.
Yesterday 2,753 yatris paid obeisance at the holy cave. With this a total of 3,18,037 had paid obeisance so far.
This however, was the lowest number of pilgrims who had paid obeisance in a single day. The earlier lowest was on July 31 when 3,294 had paid obeisance. However, on July 12 only 1,660 pilgrims had paid obeisance as yatris could not reach base camps due to closure of Srinagar-Jammu national highway. The highest number of 20,822 had paid obeisance on July 6.
So far 36 pilgrims and service providers have lost their lives during the pilgrimage this year. (AGENCIES)
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