JAMMU: The eighth batch of 4773 pilgrims on Sunday left for Shri Amarnath Cave Shrine in South of Himalayas amid “Bam Bam Bhole” chants from Yatri Niwas, Bhagwati Nagar base camp here.
The fleet of 213 vehicles ferrying pilgrims was escorted by CRPF personnel in jeeps and on motorbikes.
However, for Pahalgam route, 1975 male, 563 females, 24 children and 189 sadhus left the base camp in 123 vehicles and for Baltal, 1466 male, 507 females and 189 sadhus left in 74 vehicles including buses and LMVs.
Total 213 vehicles left the base camp for both the routes including 82 HMVs, 130 LMVs and one motorcycle.
The first batch was flagged off from here on Sunday by the Advisor to Governor K K Sharma.
Multi-tier security arrangements have been made for smooth and successful conduct of 46-day long Yatra concluding on August 15 on the occasion of Sharavan Purnima (Rakshabandhan).
Meanwhile, from Srinagar, fresh batches of pilgrims left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps for undertaking annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas Sunday morning despite cloudy sky.
A yatra official said Sunday that 81,630 pilgrims, including women and sadhus, from different parts of the country paid obeisance at the holy cave since the commencement of the pilgrimage from July 1st till Saturday evening amidst chanting of “Har Har Mahadev” and “Bam Bam Bolay”.
Since early Sunday morning about 1,500 yatris, who had night halt at different halting stations had darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam and more yatris are on way to holy cave.
He said weather is cloudy but the yatra is progressing smoothly from both traditional Pahalgam and shortest Baltal tracks.
He said a fresh batch of pilgrims, including women, children and sadhus left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional track. Meanwhile, the pilgrims who had night halt at different stations, including Chandanwari, on traditional route left for next stations early Sunday morning.
He said fresh batch of pilgrims also left Baltal base camp for the holy cave early Sunday morning. The pilgrims, including women, children and sadhus will reach the holy cave after covering the distance on foot, he said. Helicopter service is also operating normally from both sides.
Meanwhile, majority of the pilgrims who had darshan at the cave shrine are returning via Baltal track. The pilgrims after darshan also left for their homes.
(agencies)
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