JAMMU/ SRINAGAR : A fresh batch of 5,964 pilgrims on Tuesday left for the Shri Amarnath Cave Shrine in South of Himalayas amid ‘Bam Bam Bhole’ chants and rains from Yatri Niwas, Bhagwati Nagar base camp, meanwhile, despite cloudy weather, fresh batches of pilgrims left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps for undertaking annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas .
The fleet of 254 vehicles ferrying pilgrims was escorted by CRPF personnel in jeeps and on motorbikes.
However, for Pahalgam route, 3,056 male, 640 females, 15 children, one transgender and 285 sadhus left the base camp in 163 vehicles and for Baltal, 1,509 male, 403 females, right children and 47 sadhus left in 91 vehicles including buses and LMVs.
Total 254 vehicles left the base camp for both the routes including 98 HMVs and 156 LMVs.
The Yatra was suspended from here on Monday in view of restrictions laid in the valley due to death anniversary of HM terrorist Burhan Wani, who was killed by the security forces on July 8, 2016.
The first batch was flagged off from here on June 29 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, despite cloudy weather, fresh batches of pilgrims on Tuesday left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps for undertaking annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
Yatra was progressing smoothly from both traditional Pahalgam and shortest Baltal tracks, a yatra official said this morning, adding that so far, 1.12 lakh pilgrims have darshan of the ice-Shivlingam since the commencement of the annual pilgrimage from July 1. The pilgrimage will conclude on August 15, the Rakshabandan day.
He said about 1.12 lakh pilgrims, including women and sadhus, from different parts of the country have paid obeisance at the holy cave since the commencement of the pilgrimage from July 1 till this morning. Since early this morning, yatris, who had night halt at different halting station, have darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam and more yatris are on way to holy cave.
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 yatra track. Meanwhile, the pilgrims, who had night halt at different stations, including Chandanwari, left for next stations early this morning.
He said fresh batch of pilgrims also left Baltal base camp for the holy cave early this 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.
Majority of the pilgrims, who had darshan at the cave shrine, left for their homes. However, some pilgrims are taking time to visit Dal Lake and other tourist places, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam before leaving for home.
He said majority pilgrims, even those who are undertaking the pilgrimage via Pahalgam, are returning through Baltal route.
(agencies)
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