Jammu, Jul 03 (KNO): Over 74,000 pilgrims, from different parts of the country, paid obeisance at holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji till July 02, the fourth day of yatra, which started from twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan- Pahalgam on June 29.
Officials told the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), that 22,715 pilgrims had darshan of the ice lingam at the Amarnath cave till Tuesday evening.
With this, the total number of pilgrims visiting the 3888 metre high cave shrine in deep Himalayas during the last four days since the yatra started has reached 74,696.
Stringent security arrangements have been put in place for the smooth conduct of the Yatra,” an official said. Thousands of security personnel from the police, Central Reserve Police Force, Indo-Tibetan Border Police and other paramilitary forces have been deployed along the route. Aerial surveillance is also being carried out.
Meanwhile, the 6th batch of 5725 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas base camp in Jammu for the Kashmir valley to perform pilgrimage to Amarnath Cave Shrine .
Chanting ‘Bam Bam Bhole’, the pilgrims left the base camp in a cavalcade of 238 early this morning. These included 4481 Men, 1034 Women, 25 Children, 173 Sadhus & 12 Sadhvies (female sadhus). Of these 2514 pilgrims left for Baltal at 3:25 AM and 3211 for Pahalgam base camp at 3:45 AM.
These pilgrims will reach their respective base camps by this evening from where they will leave towards the holy cave early tomorrow morning under tight security measures.
Over 125 free Langars have been established by philanthropist organizations at base camps and in the yatra area up to holy cave to serve the pilgrims.
The 52-day long Amarnath Ji Yatra will conclude on 19th August this year on the auspicious occasion of Shravan Poornima which also coincides with the festival of Raksha Bhandan.
More than 4.5 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine last year—(KNO)