Fresh batches of more than 5,000 pilgrims proceeded on the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal to Amarnath on Wednesday to pay obeisance at the Holy Cave Shrine, officials said.
They said 3,225 pilgrims had paid obeisance at the cave shrine till 11 am taking the total number of those who paid obeisance at the cave shrine to 2,79,047 so far since the pilgrimage commenced on June 30.
New batches of devotees were allowed to proceed from the traditional Nunwan Pahalgam base camp in south Kashmir and shortest Baltal via Dumail in Ganderbal district on Wednesday amid dry but partially cloudy weather conditions.
As many as 1, 455 pilgrims including 578 women, 3 ‘sadhus’ and 29 children proceeded from Baltal via Domail earlier in the day.
As many as 551 pilgrims were also airlifted by chopper from Baltal for paying their obeisance there till 11 am on Wednesday.
More than 3,500 pilgrims were also allowed to proceed from the traditional Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam and at halting points of Chandanwari and Panjtarni in south Kashmir on the day.
Kashmir Weather, an independent observatory, has forecast showers can occur along both Pahalgam and Sonamarg routes to the holy cave. There is a possibility of heavy showers between late afternoon and evening also.
The Amarnath Yatra was temporarily suspended on Tuesday for a brief time in the afternoon following heavy rains near the Cave shrine that triggered flash floods in the water body creating a panicky situation for the authorities who sounded an alert and shifted about 4, 000 pilgrims to safer places. However the yatra resumed soon after the weather improved.
