SRINAGAR: Despite rain and drop in the mercury, yatra was going on smoothly as the number of pilgrims crossed 3.50 lakh, when lowest number of 294 yatris paid obeisance.
Weather was now pleasant today as fresh batches of pilgrims, including women and sadhus left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps for the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas at 13500 feet.
Yesterday 294 pilgrims on 52nd day of the yatra, lowest since the commencement of the 59-day-long annual pilgrimage, paid obeisance at the cave shrine since last night. With this a total of 3,50,372 Yatris have paid obeisance at the Holy Cave. There was intermittent rain during the night particularly on Baltal track and now the weather is pleasant and yatra is going on smoothly though the sky is still cloudy, he said.
He said fresh batch of pilgrims left Baltal base camp for the holy cave early this morning. The pilgrims are scheduled to reach the cave shrine this afternoon after covering the 16-km-long track on foot, dandies and horse backs.
Meanwhile, pilgrims, who had night halt at cave shrine after paying obeisance yesterday, have also started their return journey to Baltal camp early this morning, he said.
The official said fresh batch of yatris also left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for the cave shrine this morning. However, some of them will have night halt at Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional track. Meanwhile, pilgrims who had night halt at different halting stations on the traditional route have also started their onward journey towards the cave shrine early this morning. (AGENCIES)
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