Over 2.10 lakh people paid darshan at Amarnath shrine

Jammu, July 28: With Amarnath yatra entering the 28th day today, over 2.10 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, even as 1,546 yatris performed darshan today, officials said.

"As many as 1,546 yatris paid obeisance at the cave shrine today. Till date 2,10,179 pilgrims have performed darshan," an official spokesperson said.

The number of pilgrims have drastically fallen, as 429 yatris today left for the twin base camp of the Amarnath cave shrine from Jammu amid tight security.

A total of 429 pilgrims, including 295 males, 32 females and 102 'sadhus' left in 12 vehicles from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for the two base camps in Pahalgam and Baltal in Kashmir, a police officer said.

The yatra resumed this morning after remaining suspended for most part of the day yesterday due to heavy rains. Heavy rains, which lashed wide parts of Kashmir yesterday, rendered the arduous tracks slippery, prompting the authorities to temporarily halt the yatra as a precautionary measure.

The pilgrims, who had reached various halting stations, to and fro the cave were also directed to stay back and wait for further orders. The 48-day yatra commenced from the twin routes on July 2 and so far over 2.09 lakh pilgrims had paid obeisance at the cave shrine.

PTI