The Hindu : First batch of Amarnath pilgrims returns

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003

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Other States - Jammu & Kashmir

First batch of Amarnath pilgrims returns

By Our Staff Reporter

Jammu July 14. Over 10,000 pilgrims from all parts of the country have visited the Amarnath cave, situated in the Pir Panjal range, and the first batch of pilgrims has returned safely after darshan.

Nearly 6000 ponies and 1100 dandies were available for ferrying the yatris to the cave and back.

Three pilgrims died on their way to the cave.

The situation in some parts of Jammu and Kashmir has often become unmanageable with the pilgrims arriving in the State much before the date they have been allotted.

There was a minor scuffle between the authorities and the pilgrims from Punjab on Sunday night when the pilgrims were refused permission to travel before their scheduled date.

The trek to the Amarnath cave is approximately 43 km, but the new route via Baltal, though steeper in gradient, is only 15 km.

While the trek along the Pahalgam route would take up to four days, the Baltal route would take just one day.

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