26,000 pilgrims leave for Amarnath temple

SRINAGAR: After a day's suspension of Amarnath yatra due to inclement weather , the pilgrims on Saturday were allowed to proceed towards the cave temple.
Over 26,000 pilgrims were allowed from Baltal base camp and the Pahalgam base camp to move to the cave shrine, chief executive officer of the shrine board, RK Goyal said on Saturday.
According to officials, 36 pilgrims died so far due to natural causes.The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite formation that is believed to be a symbol of lord Shiva. The trek up to the cave either on foot or on ponies which expose their lives to risk of accidents.
Meanwhile, the CEO on Saturday morning rushed to the holy cave, to review the arrangements for the pilgrims in view of the heavy rainfall during the past two days in the yatra area.
He said the movement of yatris along both the routes to the cave shrine was progressing satisfactorily, since early Saturday morning and, as per available reports from the holy cave shrine, about 12,000 yatris had paid obeisance at the Sanctum Sanctorum by Saturday afternoon.
Referring to the weather conditions in the area, the CEO stated that as per the meteorological department's weather forecast for the next 5 days, i.e. from July 10 to July 14, the sky is likely to remain cloudy in the Kashmir division; it will remain generally cloudy on July 10 and 11 and partly cloudy from July 12 to 14. He advised all those who intend to visit the shrine to ascertain the weather conditions in the yatra area before embarking on their pilgrimage.