Despite threat of rains, pilgrimage going on, 2 more yatris die

Srinagar: Despite threat of rains in the afternoon on both traditional Pahalgam and shortest Baltal track; more than 15000 pilgrims today left base camps for holy Amarnath cave shrine, situated at 13500 feet above sea level in south Kashmir Himalayas.
Meanwhile, two more pilgrims died, raising the number of yatris who died to 28 since the commencement of the 46-day-long pilgrimage on June 29.
The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) R K Goyal said according to the forecast provided by the Met department, the sky will remain partly cloudy today while it will remain generally cloudy on July 8 and 9.
There could be rain on both the tracks in the afternoon.
However, on July 10 and 11, light rain and thundershowers, are expected in Kashmir division.
The details of weather forecast are available on the Met Dept’s website (www.amssdelhi.gov.in).
A yatra official told over phone from Nunwan Pahalgam base camp, 7432 piligrims left for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional track this morning.
He said those who had night halt at different stations also started their onward journey this morning towards the shrine.
Those who had completed their darshan also started their return journey, he said.
Similarly, despite rain threat, 7955 pilgrims left Baltal base camp this morning to have darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam in the cave shrine this afternoon. However, majority of them will stay near the shrine in the camps while others will start return journey after darshan today.
Official sources said about 1.6 lakh pilgrims have darshan of the Shivlingam since June 29 against 2.52 lakh yatris who have registered themselves for this year pilgrimage.
The yatra will conclude on August 13, the Raksha bandhan day.