Saturday, July 9 2005 15:32 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Srinagar: After a day's suspension due to inclement weather, the pilgrimage to the Himalayan cave shrine of Amarnath resumed from Baltal base camp here. The first batch of yatris left via the traditional Pahalgam route today (July 9,2005).

The yatra was expected to touch the one lakh-mark by the evening as over 97,000 pilgrims had already paid obeisance at the 3,880-metre high cave shrine of Baltal route, officials said here.

They said the yatra, which began from Baltal route on June 21 and was suspended yesterday due to inclement weather, resumed this morning with pilgrims at Baltal base camp being allowed to proceed for a glimpse of the 'ice lingam' at the cave shrine.

The first batch of 300 yatris were also allowed to move from Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam this morning after the authorities reviewed security and other arrangements for the pilgrimage.

The yatra was scheduled to commence from the traditional Pahalgam route on July 6 but was delayed for three days due to heavy rains and landslides.

Tight security arrangements were in place along both the routes leading to the shrine in view of the recent attack at Ayodhya and the surge in militancy in the Kashmir Valley.

A batch of 3,959 registered yatris left Jammu base camp this morning on way to Nunwan and Baltal base camps with the reopening of Jammu-Srinagar highway, a Jammu report said.