Amarnath yatra set to cross 5 lakh-mark

The footfall at the Amarnath shrine is likely to breach the 5 lakh mark today with more than 4,90,000 pilgrims already having paid obeisance at the cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas.

The footfall at the Amarnath shrine is likely to breach the 5 lakh mark today with more than 4,90,000 pilgrims already having paid obeisance at the cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas.

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"As many as 4,91,387 yatris had darshan of Shiv Lingam at Amarnath cave till this evening. The yatra is going on smoothly as pilgrims are paying obeisance without any difficulty," joint control room (JCR) officials said.

While 4,73,679 pilgrims visited the cave shrine till last night, 17,708 pilgrims visited and the 5 lakh mark is likely to be reached, they said.

Amid tight security, the 21st batch comprising of 2,140 pilgrims left yesterday for the Amarnath yatra from here, police said.

A total of 1,242 men, 571 women, 34 children and 293 sadhus left from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here around 0500 hours this morning in a cavalcade of 64 vehicles for the shrine.

With yesterdays's batch, 61,472 pilgrims have left Jammu in 21 batches for their onward journey to the cave shrine.

Over 4,000 pilgrims have arrived in Jammu base camp from various parts of the country for their onward journey to cave shrine.