SRINAGAR: The Amarnath ‘yatra’ was progressing smoothly from the shortest Baltal route as fresh batch of 1,718 pilgrims left the base camp early this morning for the cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, where over 1.33 lakh yatris had paid obeisance from July 2.
However, no ‘yatri’ could leave Nunwan Pahalgam base camp as the pilgrims who had left Jammu yesterday afternoon after remaining stranded there since Saturday, were stopped at Qazigund for security reasons last night.
A yatra official said that the weather was pleasant and ‘yatra’ was going on smoothly from the Baltal track.
He said 1,718 pilgrims, including 247 women and 10 Sadhus left Baltal base camp early this morning for the cave shrine. Meanwhile, pilgrims, who had ‘darshan’ of the self made Ice-Shivlingam yesterday have also started their return journey early today.
However, there was no ‘yatra’ at Nunwan Pahalgam base camp today. But, he said, pilgrims, who had night halt at Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station and other camps, including Sheshnag, Mahaguns, Pisso top and Panjterni also started their onward journey towards the cave shrine early this morning.
Meanwhile, more than 25,000 pilgrims, who were stranded at Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps since Saturday after paying obeisance, reached Jammu safely late last night.
They had left the base camps in about 1,800 vehicles in the afternoon yesterday for Jammu.
Majority of the pilgrims, who had left Jammu for base camps yesterday afternoon, were stopped at Qazigund for security reasons as it was very late.
Official sources said the pilgrims have been put up in Walnut factory at Mir Bazar Qazigund for security reasons. The pilgrims will be taken to Pahalgam and Baltal base camps later in the evening, they said, adding that the yatris are being provided all facilities there.
Pilgrims arriving by air from different parts of the country, are being taken to base camps under proper security arrangements. (AGENCIES)
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