Over 13,000 pilgrims pay obeisance at Amarnath cave shrine

More than 13,000 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir during the first two days of pilgrimage, officials said today.

“While nearly 9,000 pilgrims performed darshan yesterday, more than 4,000 devotees have paid obeisance till 3 PM today,” an official of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) said.

He said the final figures for the number of devotees who have visited the cave shrine today will be disclosed in the evening. The official said more than 14,000 devotees set off on the trek from Baltal and Pahalgam base camps this morning.

“While 7,471 pilgrims left from the Baltal base camp, 6,177 pilgrims started their journey on the traditional Pahalgam route from Nunwan base camp,” he said.

Though there were no specific inputs about militants planning to strike the ongoing yatra, authorities have made unprecedented security arrangements to foil any nefarious design by subversive elements to sabotage the yatra.

Special rescue teams have also been deployed at vulnerable spots along the tracks to meet any eventuality. The yatra, which began yesterday, is scheduled to end on August 18, coinciding with ‘Shravan Purnima’ and ‘Raksha Bandhan’ festivals.