Srinagar: Fresh batches of around 14,000 pilgrims left the twin base camps on Wednesday to pay obeisance at the Himalayan cave shrine of Amarnath on Wednesday, officials said.
The “Charri Mubarak” or silver mace of Lord Shiva was taken to Pahalgam by Mahant Deependra Giri from the Dashnami Akhara Srinagar on the occasion of Ashad Purnima to perform pooja.
More than 1.35 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at Amarnath till Wednesday morning, officials said.
Around 3,000 devotees including women and Sadhus left Nunwan base camp from the traditional Pahalgam route in south Kashmir’s Anantnag district earlier in the day for the cave shrine amid cloudy weather conditions.
They made pit stops at Chandanwanwari and Panjtarni before proceeding for the cave.
As many as 10,480 pilgrims undertook the trek from the shorter Baltal route via Dumail that included 3,185 women, 126 children and 71 sadhus. A total of 354 devotees took the chopper from Baltal to cave shrine till 11. am.
Kashmir Weather, an independent weather observatory, forecast possibility of rain showers till evening at Pahalgam, Chandanwari, Zojibal, M G Top, Sheshnag, Poshpatri, Panchtarni, Sangam, Baltal, Dumail, Brarimarg, Sangam and Holy Cave.
A 52-year-old yatri from Rajasthan, Mongi Lal, who fell ill and was admitted to base camp hospital at Baltal, died of cardiac arrest on Wednesday, officials said.
