JAMMU, Jul 29: Officials said A fresh batch of more than 2,000 pilgrims left Jammu city in a convoy of 87 vehicles early Saturday morning for the two base camps in Kashmir to undertake the annual Amarnath pilgrimage.Since the first batch was flagged off by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha on June 30, this was the weakest batch of Lord Shiva worshippers to depart the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu.
The 62-day yatra had begun the following day from its twin base camps in Pahalgam, in the Anantnag district, and Baltal, in the Ganderbal district.A cave shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas that houses a naturally formed ice-shivling that has now completely melted has received about 3.78 lakh pilgrim visits so far, according to officials. This melting of the ice-shivling is the primary cause of the current trend of declining pilgrim foot traffic.They said that virtually daily prayers are still offered at the cave sanctuary by over 7,000 pilgrims.
A total of 2,050 pilgrims from the 27th batch, including 357 women, 12 children, 54 Sadhus, and 9 Sadhvis, departed the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the valley in a convoy between 3.30 and 3.45 in the morning, according to officials.According to the administration, 608 yatris are undertaking the yatra along the 14-km Baltal route, while 1,442 pilgrims are travelling the traditional 48-km Pahalgam track.
