Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 21: On the 20th day of yatra today, 5024 pilgrims drawn from different parts of country paid obeisance at holy cave of Lord Shiva lying in the lap of deep Himalayas in South Kashmir’s district of Anantnag.
With this, a total number of 2,62,358 pilgrims had performed darshan in holy cave since first batch of yatris which left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here on July 1.
According to an official spokesman, the yatra was suspended from Baltal track up to 10.30 am today due to heavy rainfall in the track area. He said 1342 pilgrims left via the shortest Baltal track for holy cave this morning while 365 left by chopper. He said the weather remained cloudy in both Baltal and Nunwan areas for entire day today.
The spokesman said 5074 pilgrims left from Nunwan-Pahalgam base camp via traditional Chandanwari track to cave shrine early this morning while the pilgrims having night halt at Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni also started their onwards journey to holy cave early this morning.
He said the Baltal-Srinagar road is open for one way traffic only and that has been a reason the number of yatris visiting holy cave via this route have considerably reduced during last some days. However, the rush of pilgrims continues as usual via Pahalgam-Chandanwari track.
The spokesman said one pilgrim who was identified as Ram Narayan Madhav of Bihar was injured at Railpathri after a fall from horse. He was shifted to local hospital for treatment where from doctors referred him to Srinagar.
The spokesman said a fresh batch of 1050 pilgrims left from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for holy cave early this morning under tight security arrangements in a cavalcade of 30 vehicles. They included 696 male 255 female, five children and 94 Sadhus.
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