Amarnath yatra resumes today, holy mace leaves for Sheshnag

Srinagar, Aug 7 (UNI) The Amarnath yatra resumed today from both traditional Pahalgam route and shorter Baltal route following improvement in the weather, official sources said.

Meanwhile, a woman pilgrim Neelima from Nagpur was injured when her horse slipped at Bonipora on Baltal route this morning. She was hospitalised while the horse died on the spot.

The 'Chhari Mubarak' (holy mace) accompanied by about 100 sadhus, led by Mahant Deepender Giri, today left Chandanwari for Sheshnag enroute to the holy cave where the concluding darshan will be held on August 9, the Raksha Bandan Day.

They said 452 yatris today left Baltal for the cave shrine this morning after a wooden bridge, damaged due to heavy rains yesterday, was repaired.

The road is now safe after necessary repair was undertaken, sources said adding those stranded at the cave shrine are also on way back to base camp.

About 2.90 lakhs pilgrims from all over the country and abroad performed darshan of the holy cave despite threat perception and icelingam controversy. However, the number of pilgrims this time was very low against last year when about 4.5 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine.

Forty-five pilgrims besides two locals, have died during the two-month yatra started from June 11 this year.

UNI BAS YA BD1527