Jammu: A batch of 570 pilgrims on Tuesday left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here to pay obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.
The 43-day Yatra began on June 30 from the twin routes — the traditional 48-km from Nunwan in Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag, and the 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir.
The 33rd batch of pilgrims left in a convoy of 21 vehicles amid heavy security of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), they said.
According to officials, 346 pilgrims heading for Baltal were the first to leave the Jammu base camp in 10 vehicles followed by the second convoy of 11 vehicles carrying 224 pilgrims for Pahalgam.
The number of pilgrims visiting the cave shrine is drastically falling as the Yatra is inching towards its conclusion as well as poor weather conditions, officials said.
A total of 1,43,693 pilgrims have left from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the Valley since June 29.
The Yatra is scheduled to end on August 11 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.
A total of 36 people, mostly pilgrims, have died till now, excluding 15 pilgrims, who died in the flash floods at Amarnath cave shrine on July 01.
843 devotees leave Jammu for Buddha Amarnath shrine in Poonch
Another batch of over 800 pilgrims left for the revered Buddha Amarnath shrine in Poonch district from a base camp in Jammu on Monday amid tight security arrangements, officials said.
The Buddha Amarnath Yatra resumed on Friday after remaining suspended for two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The batch of 843 pilgrims — 780 men, 69 women and 14 children — left in 17 vehicles from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for the shrine amid tight security, they said.
The Yatra will culminate on August 08 with the departure of ‘Chari Mubarak’ from Shri Dashnami Akhara Poonch.
The temple of Baba Buddha Amarnath dedicated to Lord Shiva is also known as “Chattani Baba Amarnath temple” and is located 290 km northwest of Jammu. Standing 4,600 feet above sea level, the shrine is located in a picturesque setting.
A multi-tier security has been put in place at the shrine and on the Yatra route.
