Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Aug 4: As the 43 -day long Shri Amarnath Yatra is inching close to culmination and the rush has declined since last week, 1500 pilgrims drawn from different parts of country performed darshan of naturally formed Ice Lingam in holy cave on 36th day of pilgrimage today.
According to officials, 1500 pilgrims paid obeisance at cave shrine situated at an altitude of 3880 meters in Lidder Valley in Anantnag district of South Kashmir by this evening from twin tracks of Baltal -Dumel and Nunwan Chandanwari.
With this, a total number of 2,88,234 pilgrims performed darshan at holy cave since the 43 day long yatra started on June 30 this year. A total number of 2,86,734 pilgrims had performed darshan of Ice Lingam in holy cave by yesterday evening.
Officials said the weather in yatra area remained pleasant throughout the day.
Meanwhile a fresh batch of 388 pilgrims, left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here today to pay obeisance at the cave shrine of Amarnath Ji in South Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.
The 35th batch left in a convoy of nine vehicles amid heavy security of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), they said.
According to officials, 103 pilgrims heading for Baltal were the first to leave the Jammu base camp in four vehicles, followed by the second convoy of 12 vehicles carrying 285 pilgrims for Pahalgam.
Officials attribute the fall in the number of pilgrims visiting the cave shrine to twin factors — poor weather conditions and the yatra inching towards its conclusion.
A total of 1,43,919 pilgrims have left from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the Valley since June 29.
The yatra is scheduled to end on Shravan Purnima, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan falling on August 11.
A total of 36 people, mostly pilgrims, have died during the ongoing Amarnath Yatra till now. Additionally, 15 pilgrims had died in the flash floods at the cave shrine on July 8.
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