More than 1.5 lakhs pilgrims visit Amarnath

Jammu, June 29 (UNI) More than 1.50 lakh pilgrims have visited the holy shrine of Amarnath located at an altitude of 3,880 metres, said sources of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

The yatra of the holy Himalayan cave began on June 10 and the number of pilgrims, who paid obeisance to Shri Amarnath shrine has crossed the 1.5 lakh mark.

More than 1.48 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine till yesterday.

The number of yatris visiting the holy cave from tougher but shorter 16 km Baltal track was more than the Pahalgam track.

During 18 days of yatra, more than 80,000 pilgrims took the route of Baltal to reach Amarnath shrine and offer prayers to Lord Shiva while more than about 70,000 devotees reached the cave shrine from Pahalgam route, the sources added.

There were about 15,000 yatris still trekking towards the shrine from both the routes and most of the pilgrims have returned to their native places after paying obeisance.

A fresh batch of 1,569 pilgrims left MM Stadium here for Amarnath early this morning, officials said adding that the devotees, including 1,032 men, 293 women, 188 sadhus and 54 children, left in a fleet of 46 vehicles under tight security.

About 42,000 pilgrims have left from only Jammu city for the shrine since June 10, the sources here said.

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