SRINAGAR: Pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas was going on smoothly after being briefly disrupted today due to bad weather from shortest Baltal track.
About 80,000 pilgrims, including women and sadhus, had paid obeisance at the cave shrine since the commencement of the 40-day-long pilgrimage from June 29 from both Baltal and traditional Pahalgam tracks, a yatra official said.
He said the pilgrims, who had night halt at Panjtarni, have darshan of the self-made holy ice-Shivlingam since early this morning. Till 0830 hrs, 1,650 yatris had darshan and more are on way to the cave shrine.
Yesterday, 16,876 pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine and majority of the pilgrims had since returned to Batlal base camp.
The official said that about 5,500 pilgrims had arrived at Baltal base camp from Jammu yesterday.
”We have allowed pilgrims to proceed towards the cave shrine from shortest Baltal track this morning, he said, adding that later, yatra was stopped due to rain and slippery track condition. Helicopter service was also suspended as a precautionary measure due to bad weather.
Now, the yatra has resumed again after improvement in the weather, he said, adding that pilgrims, who had night halt at cave shrine, are also on way back to Baltal base camp.
Majority pilgrims, who prefer Pahalgam traditional route to holy cave, are returning via shortest Baltal track, he said.
Meanwhile, fresh batch of pilgrims left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional track. Pilgrims, who had night halt at Chandanwari and other halting station, have also started their foot journey towards the cave shrine (AGENCIES)
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