Srinagar, June 30 (UNI) Fresh batches of more than 10,000 pilgrims proceeded on the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal to Amarnath on Sunday to pay obeisance at the Holy Cave Shrine in the Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.
They said 576 pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine till 10 a.m. today, taking the total number of devotees who paid obeisance at the cave shrine to 3,600 so far during the past 24 hours. The 52-day-long Amarnath Yatra begins on June 29 amid unprecedented security arrangements in place.
New batches of 3,452 devotees, including 2,670 males, 591 females, 38 children, and 153 Sadhus, were allowed to proceed from the traditional Nunwan Pahalgam base camp towards Chandanwari and Panjtarni in south Kashmir amid chanting “Bam Bam Bole” and “Har Har Mahadev” hymns.
As many as 6,665 pilgrims, including 4,962 males, 1,630 females, 28 children, 35 Sadhu, and 10 Sadhivs, were set off from the shortest route to Baltal via Domail in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal District earlier in the morning to undertake the trek to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath.
Kashmir Weather, an independent observatory, has forecast the possibility of a rain shower or spell towards afternoon or evening along both routes of Amarnath Holy Cave.
Meanwhile, the devotees expressed satisfaction and gratitude for the services and comfort provided at various enroute halting stations to the Amarnath pilgrims. A devotee expressed his views in a video of the Information Department on X.