SRINAGAR : About 5500 pilgrims, including women and sadhus, today left for holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, where 1.83 lakh yatris had paid obeisance since the commencement of the annual 48-day-long pilgrimage from July 2.
About 500 pilgrims had darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam since early this morning at the cave shrine till 0900 hrs, a yatra official said.
Meanwhile, over 4,000 pilgrims, who were stopped at Jawahar tunnel due to tense situation in south Kashmir following the death of three persons, including two women and injuries to three others on July 18 evening, have arrived at Baltal and Pahalgam base camps safely yesterday.
The yatris had left Jammu during the intervening night of July 17 and 18. He said that about 2,500 yatris left Baltal base camp early this morning for the holy Cave shrine and weather was pleasant.
The yatris are likely to reach the cave shrine after covering the hilly terrain on foot this afternoon. Meanwhile, pilgrims who had paid obeisance and stayed at the cave shrine for the night have also started their return journey.
Over 3000, pilgrims left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional track today.
After night halt at Chandanwari, the pilgrims will start their onward journey towards the cave shrine early in the morning tomorrow.
Meanwhile, pilgrims, who had night halt at different halting station on traditional track have also started their journey this morning.
Yatra official said 3,238 pilgrims, including women and sadhus from different parts of the country had darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam at the cave shrine yesterday.
He said with this a total of 1,82,768 yatris had paid obeisance at the shrine since the commencement of the pilgrimage from July 2 from both traditional Pahalgam and shortest Baltal tracks. Majority of the pilgrims had since returned to their homes though some of them are visiting tourist places. (AGENCIES)
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