Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 23: Over 10,800 pilgrims drawn from across the country paid obeisance at 3880 metre high Himalayan cave in South Kashmir district of Anantnag from twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam on 21 st day of pilgrimage today.
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According to officials, 10,828 pilgrims performed darshan of naturally formed Ice Shivlingam in holy cave by this evening. With this, a total number of 3,42,657 pilgrims have performed darshan in the cave shrine during last 21 days. Yatra is likely to cross 3.50 lakh by tomorrow.
Among them majority of yatris have returned to their home States while others are on the way officials said.
They said among the 10,828 pilgrims who performed darshan today included 8461 males, 1802 females, 56 Sadhus, two Sadhvis, three transgender and 415 security personnel. All these pilgrims have started their return journey towards Domail and Panchtarni camp after paying obeisance at cave shrine, they added.
A lady suffered breathlessness at cave shrine and she was shifted to a nearby medical centre by the sector officers at holy cave for medical aid.
Officials said 2781 yatris had a night halt at Nunwan Camp while 2599 left for darshan to holy cave from there early this morning. They said 4027 yatris crossed Access Gate at Domail this morning while 7390 pilgrims reached Domail after darshan.
Rohit Kumar, a devotee from Lakhimpur Kheri in UP who is performing Amarnath Ji Yatra by foot has reached Kashmir. He claims to have been walking for past four months as part of yatra from Rameshwaram Jyotirlinga to Amarnath Ji Barfani Baba by foot.
Out of 7000 kms , he has covered 6550 kms so far. Kumar said he is satisfied with facilities provided for the pilgrims and the security arrangements made by the Government.
Amid tight security, a fresh batch of 2,837 pilgrims left Jammu on Wednesday for the cave shrine of Amarnath Ji in the South Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.
Today’s batch of pilgrims is the smallest so far to leave for Amarnath since the yatra began on July 3.
The 38-day long pilgrimage commenced on July 3 this year from the twin tracks in Kashmir valley to holy cave.
The 21st batch of 2,837 pilgrims, including 2,286 men and eight children, left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here in 128 vehicles for the twin base camps in Kashmir, the officials said.
With this, a total of 1,30,378 pilgrims have departed from the Jammu base camp for the Valley since July 2, when Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch.
The number of pilgrims undertaking the yatra has seen a dip over the past few days.
While 7,908 pilgrims left in the 16th batch for Amarnath on July 18, it was followed by 6,365 pilgrims leaving Jammu on July 19 in the 17th batch. Subsequently, on July 20, 4,388 pilgrims left in the 18th batch, and 3,791 pilgrims departed in the 19th batch on July 21, followed by the 20th batch of 3,536 pilgrims on July 22.
Last year, over 5.10 lakh pilgrims had paid obeisance at the cave shrine, which houses a naturally formed Ice Lingam.
The 38-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 9.
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