Omar leads ministers, officials to border Poonch district
This was the first outreach of Omar after becoming CM of Jammu and Kashmir.
A fresh batch of over 3,048 pilgrims left Jammu for the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas on Saturday.
The 60-day yatra commenced from the twin routes of Baltal in Ganderbal and Pahalgam in Anantnag districts on June 28.
A Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) official said over 1,65,000 pilgrims have so far performed the pilgrimage that started on June 28.
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The fresh batch includes 623 women and 144 sadhus. They left Jammu in 112 vehicles for the twin base camps in the Valley under tight security in the wee hours, a police official said.
He said while 1,973 pilgrims, including 310 women and 144 sadhus, were heading for the Nunwan base camp along the 36-km Pahalgam track, 1,075 yatries have opted the shortest 12-km Baltal route. They will be reaching the base camp later in the day.
The Muslim community living along the pilgrimage route in their centuries-old tradition continue to support the pilgrim by acting as helpers, ‘ponywallahs’ or even setting up roadside tea-stalls.
The yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 26coinciding with ‘Raksha Bandhan’ festival.
(With agency inputs)
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