Srinagar, June 14
The first batch of 2,800 pilgrims began their holy trek from Pahalgam to the cave shrine of Amarnath today after the yatra remained suspended for three days due to bad weather conditions on the 32-km trek. The two-month-long annual yatra was scheduled to formally commence on Sunday last, simultaneously via the traditional route of Pahalgam in south Kashmir and Baltal on the Srinagar-Leh axis.
However, there was no movement of pilgrims allowed on the 12-km trek between Baltal and the holy cave today. All 2,000 pilgrims, who were held up in the cave area due to bad weather conditions, had been safely brought down to Baltal during the past two days.
No convoys of pilgrims had been allowed from Jammu for the past two days so as to avoid rush at the base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal. In case weather conditions remained favourable the movement of pilgrims may be allowed from Jammu tomorrow.
Official sources said the movement of yatris from Chandanwari, about 16 km from Pahalgam, was allowed only up to 2 pm today. After improvement in the weather conditions since yesterday, the movement of pilgrims was allowed though the skies remained overcast even today.
