* Over 7000 yatris perform darshan
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 23: Though second batch of about 4500 Shri Amarnath Ji bound pilgrims returned from Tikri in Udhampur district early this morning as the authorities did not allow them to proceed ahead due to inclement weather and shooting stones on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at Panthal and Battery Chashma in Ramban district on the second consecutive day today, 7271 yatris performed darshan of naturally formed Ice Lingam in cave shrine in South Kashmir by this evening.
However, the first batch of about 2400 Shri Amarnath bound pilgrims who had preferred the Baltal track were allowed to leave towards Kashmir earlier.
It may be recalled that yatra was also suspended from Jammu towards twin base camps of Nunwan -Pahalgam in Anantnag district of South Kashmir and Baltal in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir yesterday by the authorities due to inclement weather and shooting stones on NH. However, the yatris who were camping at Baltal base camp and other camps enroute to holy cave performed darshan as the yatra passed smoothly from both the tracks today.
Click here to watch video
According to officials, 7271 pilgrims performed darshan of naturally formed Ice Lingam by this evening at the holy cave from Baltal and Chandanwari tracks despite the yatra remained suspended from Jammu. With this, total number of pilgrims who performed darshan in the cave shrine since the annual yatra of Baba Amarnath Ji commenced on June 30 this year has touched 2, 44,751. It may be recalled that 2,27,480 pilgrims had performed darshan at holy cave till last night.
Officials said the weather was partially cloudy during the day in the yatra area. However the pilgrimage passed smoothly. Officials said while the first batch of about 2400 pilgrims from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here who had preferred shortest 14 kilometre Baltal track were allowed to leave towards Kashmir, the second batch of 4500 pilgrims who had opted for traditional 48 km Nunwan -Pahalgam track had to return from Tikri, Udhampur to Yatri Niwas, Bhagwati Nagar due to blockade of Jammu-Srinagar NH at various places.
Officials said 590 pilgrims had night stay at Sheshnag Camp while 518 pilgrims left from there to holy cave today.
Likewise, the rush had decreased at other camps as no yatri came from Jammu towards Nunwan base camp today. Officials said 5059 pilgrims were having night stay at Panchtarni while 4639 pilgrims left for holy cave from there during the day.
Officials said about 12,105 pilgrims were staying at Baltal base camp during the last night and 2842 left for holy cave from there this morning. Out of them, 2692 left by foot while 150 left by chopper. Besides, 4614 pilgrims left for their home States from Baltal base camp today, officials added.
The 43-day long yatra will culminate on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival falling on August 11 when holy mace of Lord Shiva from Dashnami Akhara Srinagar will reach the cave shrine.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
