Over 68,000 yatris pay obeisance at Amarnath cave shrine

Ganderbal, July 2: Over 17,000 devotees paid obeisance at the Amarnath cave shrine on Tuesday, taking the total number of yatris performing the darshan during the ongoing Amarnath Yatra to over 68,000, officials said.

The annual Amarnath yatra is going on smoothly from both Pahalgam and Baltal routes.

Nearly 8000 pilgrims left for Amarnath cave shrine from Baltal base camp on the fourth day of the yatra on Tuesday, officials said.

Meanwhile, a fresh batch of over 6500 yatris left for the Amarnath cave shrine from Jammu on Tuesday amid tight security, officials said.

They said the fifth batch of 6537 yatris left in 261 vehicles for the twin basecamps of Baltal and Palagam at 3:05 am and were escorted by security vehicles.

“While 4431 yatris took the 48-km traditional Pahalgam route for their yatra, 2106 yatris chose the shorter but steep 14-km Baltal route,” officials said.

The 52-day yatra began on June 29 and would conclude on August 19.