Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 16: The two-month long holy Amarnath yatra which started on July 1 from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here is picking up day by day with 14,488 pilgrims paying obeisance in holy cave of Lord Shiva in South Kashmir district of Anantnag on 15th day of darshan today.
With this the number of pilgrims visiting the cave shrine in last 16 days has reached 2,18,053.
According to an official spokesman there is no decrease in the rush of pilgrims despite the heavy downpour of Monsoon and the pilgrims are in high spirits. He said yatra is going smoothly and there is heavy rush at two base camps where thousands of pilgrims report daily for onwards journey to holy cave.
He said 8117 pilgrims left from Nunwan Pahalgam base camp via traditional Chandanwari track to holy cave while the pilgrims stationed at the halting stations of Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni also left for their onwards journey early this morning.
Spokesman said that 6464 pilgrims left for darshan to holy cave from Baltal Base Camp early this morning. However the movement of yatris was affected to Baltal Base Camp this evening after cloud bursts at Kulan and Gagangir on Srinagar, Leh National Highway resulting into flash floods and washing away of road at various places.
The authorities have stopped movement of yatris on the road and they have been advised to shift to safer places.
An official spokesman said that 200 metre road was also washed away at Neelgrat helipad near Baltal due to flash floods at two places. However no causality of any yatri has been reported so far.
Spokesman said the cloud burst also took place in one area of Sheshnag but all yatris stationing there are safe and sound.
The spokesman said Srinagar -Leh road has been blocked at three places from Kangan to Baltal.
He said heavy rains lashed entire Lidder Valley late this evening and sky from both Pahalgam and Baltal to holy cave was over cast with thick clouds.
Meanwhile a fresh batch of 1727 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas to holy cave early this morning under tight security arrangements in a cavalcade of 44 vehicles. They included 1238 male, 407 female, 32 children and 50 Sadhus. The cavalcade had crossed Jawahar Tunnel and were on their way to twin base camps. However due to cloud burst the yatris who were on their way from Kangan to Baltal could not reach base camp and were halted at different places in the way.
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