Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 23: As the Srinagar-Baltal road was restored for the two way traffic this morning, 7,685 pilgrims paid obeisance to Ice Lingam in the holy cave of Swami Amarnath in Lidder Valley of South Kashmir today.
With this the total number of pilgrims performing darshan at holy cave since the first batch of Yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for darshan on July 1 has touched 2,79,171.
According to an official spokesman the yatra is proceeding smoothly from both the tracks though the number of pilgrims has declined from Baltal track to a great extent during last week due to cloudburst and land slides resulting in road blockade at various places. However it is hoped that the same will pick up after the restoration of road for vehicular traffic from two ways from today, he added.
He said 3675 pilgrims left for holy cave from Nunwan base camp early this morning via traditional Chandanwari track while 1939 pilgrims left via shortest Baltal track. He said 3252 pilgrims returned from holy cave after performing darshan while 835 left for cave through chopper from Baltal during the day and 772 returned via chopper.
The spokesman said the weather from Baltal track was dry while it rained for some time during the day from Nunwan-Pahalgam track and weather also remained cloudy. However the yatra was not hampered, he added.
He said the yatra stationed at Chandanwari, Sheshnang and Panchtarni also left for holy cave for darshan early this morning.
Meanwhile two more deaths of a pilgrims and of a Langerwala were reported. While the langerman identified as Bhupinder Singh, S/O Ch Trilok Sing of Rajasthan died at Chandanwari today and his body was brought to Pahalgam for handing over to his relatives for last rites, Geeta Bahai wife of Bala Ram of MP died at Zojibal late last night. With this the death toll in ongoing yatra has touched 28.
Meanwhile a fresh batch of 1149 pilgrims left for holy cave under tight security arrangements from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas early this morning in 32 vehicles. They included 784 male, 267 female, eight children and 90 Sadhus. All these pilgrims had crossed the Jawahar Tunnel by the evening and where on their way to twin base camps of Nunwan and Baltal.
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