Jammu, July 5: Over 1.25 lakh devotees have so far performed the annual Amarnath Yatra 2024 since it started on June 29. This was informed by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), which manages the affairs of the Yatra.
Meanwhile, another batch of 6,919 pilgrims left for Kashmir valley today. They departed from Bhagwati Nagar Yatra Niwas in two escorted convoys.
At 4 a.m., an escorted convoy of 109 vehicles carrying 2,542 pilgrims left for the North Kashmir Baltal base camp. Shortly after, at 4:30 a.m., another escorted convoy of 150 vehicles transporting 4,377 Yatris set off for the South Kashmir Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp.
The Meteorological department has forecast generally cloudy weather on both Yatra routes, with the possibility of light rain or thunderstorms during the day.
Notably, Yatris undertake the pilgrimage via either the 48 km traditional Pahalgam cave shrine route or the shorter 14 km Baltal route. Pilgrims using the Pahalgam route take four days to reach the cave shrine, while those on the Baltal route return to the base camp the same day after having 'darshan' inside the cave shrine. Helicopter services are also available for Yatris on both routes.
