Pic for representation purpose only

Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) on Friday announced its decision to allow the ongoing Amarnath Yatra only on alternate days due to the falling number of pilgrims.

 

On Friday, over 1,600 Yatris had Darshan inside the cave shrine, while another batch of 915 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu in an escorted convoy for the valley on Saturday.

 

More than 4.30 lakh pilgrims have undertaken the Amarnath Yatra so far this year, surpassing the last year's total with nearly three weeks still to go before the pilgrimage ends, an official said on Friday.

 

A total of 44 pilgrims have lost their lives due to health-related reasons during the yatra so far this year, he said, adding that last year 71 pilgrims had died.

 

The 62-day pilgrimage to the cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas commenced on July 1 through twin tracks- the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the shorter 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district. It is scheduled to conclude on August 31.