Over 5,800 pilgrims leave Jammu for Amarnath Yatra

A new group of over 5,800 pilgrims left Jammu city early on July 6 for the two base camps in Kashmir to take part in the Amarnath Yatra, officials said.

Despite heavy rains, the ninth batch of 5,876 pilgrims, including 1,118 women and 18 children, left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp between 2.50 am and 3.50 am in two separate convoys of 245 vehicles, they said. While 3,759 pilgrims left for Pahalgam in a convoy of 134 vehicles, another batch of 2,117 devotees in 111 vehicles headed for Baltal, they added.

Meanwhile, the yatra was temporarily suspended on July 6 on both the routes to the cave shrine as a precautionary measure due to heavy rains, officials said. There has been intermittent heavy rains on the Baltal and Pahalgam routes since yesterday evening, they said.

The decision to temporarily suspend the yatra was taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the pilgrims, the officials added.

The number of believers who have visited the 3,800-meter-high cave shrine and Darshan of the naturally formed ice lingam has exceeded 150,000.

The Amarnath Yatra began on June 29 on the two routes – the traditional 48 km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14 km shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal – and will culminate on August 19. Last year, more than 450,000 pilgrims prayed at the cave shrine.