Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, July 17: On day 20th of holy Amarnath yatra today 9,678 pilgrims performed darshan in the cave shrine situated at an altitude of 3880 metres in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag.
According to an official spokesman, with this the total number of pilgrims visiting the holy cave since the first day of darshan on June 28 has reached 2,67,618. Till last night 2,57,940 pilgrims have performed the darshan of naturally formed Ice Lingam in holy cave, spokesman added.
He said out of these pilgrims majority had returned to their home States while others are on their way. He said the yatra is going on smoothly.
The spokesman said that the weather on both the tracks remained cloudy during the day but later in the evening it was pleasant at Baltal.
He said 3,496 pilgrims left the Nunwan-Pahalgam base camp for holy cave early this morning via traditional Chandanwari track under tight security arrangements. After halting at Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni camps, these yatris will perform darshan in the cave shrine on July 20, he added.
He said the yatris who had reached Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni yesterday also started their onwards journey to next destinations early this morning. While the yatris who left the Panchtarni managed to perform darshan at holy cave by this evening those who left from Chandanwari and Sheshnag were on their way.
Spokesman said 2,986 pilgrims left from Baltal base camp to holy cave early this morning by track while 1,435 left by chopper. These yatris managed to perform darshan in the holy cave by evening and have started their return journey towards Baltal.
He said 2,214 pilgrims had managed to return to Baltal from holy cave up to 5pm by track while 862 had returned after performing darshan by chopper.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 1,037 pilgrims left from Bhagwati Nagar base camp Jammu for holy cave early this morning under tight security arrangements in a cavalcade of 35 vehicles. They included 765 male, 166 female, 16 children and 90 Sadhus. All these pilgrims had crossed the Jawahar tunnel by the evening and were on their way to Nunwan- Pahalgam and Baltal base camps respectively. These pilgrims will leave from holy cave early tomorrow morning.
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