More than 3 lakh pilgrims visit holy Amarnath cave

Jammu, Aug 25 (UNI) More than three lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance to the ice-lingam of Lord Shiva at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas since the beginning of the 'yatra'.

''As the yatra entered into its 54th day today, a total of 3,20,000 pilgrims have visited the cave till now'', Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) spokesman, Madan Mantoo told UNI.

The yatra was going on smoothly, he said adding that about 22,000 pilgrims visited the shrine by choppers.

At least 42 pilgrims have lost their lives due to cold conditions during the yatra period.

Meanwhile, a batch of 75 pilgrims, smallest of the season, today left for Pahalgam and Baltal base camps of Shri Amarnath cave shrine from the Jammu base camps.

The batch, including 50 men, 10 women and 15 sadhus departed from the M A Stadium here at 0505 hrs in a fleet of four buses.

UNI