Srinagar, July 9: The Amaranth Yatra resumed today after three days. Two convoys comprising 2,998 pilgrims and 3,163 pilgrims each have left from Jammu for the Amarnath shrine through Baltal and Pahalgam routes respectively. The stranded pilgrims had to wait for 3-4 days at Jammu base camp, but no tickets were issued to them to proceed further.

Amarnath pilgrims were also not allowed to move towards the cave shrine from Jammu on Sunday due to a shutdown called by the separatists in the Kashmir Valley. The shutdown was to mark the second death anniversary of Hizbul commander Burhan Wani.

The annual Amarnath Yatra has begun on June 28 and will continue till August 26. A total of 83,130 pilgrims have visited the shrine in the south Kashmir Himalayas during this year's pilgrimage so far. This time the yatra will be longer by 20 days than in 2017. According to reports, a total of 2.60 lakh pilgrims offered prayers at the shrine in 2017. The Amarnath Yatra this year may see the highest footfall. The advance registrations for the two-month-long annual shrine have already crossed 2 lakh pilgrims.

The Amarnath Shrine Board organises the entire yatra. The board has made necessary arrangements for the yatra. Security forces have also been on high alert due to a possibility of a terrorist attack during the yatra.

 

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 09, 2018 10:19 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).