Srinagar: 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 J&K, 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. (with Agency inputs)