Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 8: On the day 11 of darshan, 14,413 pilgrims paid obeisance in holy cave of Lord Shiva today. With this the total number of pilgrims visiting holy cave has touched 1,43,510.
According to an official spokesman, the weather enroute to holy cave from both traditional Pahalgam track and shortest Baltal track was pleasant and the rush of yatris was on increase.
The spokesman said that two pilgrims died on way to holy cave today. They were identified as Nara Bhai 65, wife of Narseema of Chennai Tamil Nadu and Paras Nath Yadav, 56, S/o Nathevi Rai Suguli district Champaran, Bihar. While Nara Bhai died of heart attack at Panchtarni, Yadav died at Rail Pathri due to cardiac arrest. The dead bodies will be handed over to their relatives after completion of formalities for last rites tomorrow, the spokesman added.
He said with this the death toll in ongoing yatra mounted to 14. He said 5825 pilgrims left for holy cave from Baltal Base camp this morning while 7226 pilgrims left for cave shrine from Nunwan Base camp.
The spokesman said the yatris who had stayed for the night halt at Baltal, Nunwan, Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni camps also left for holy cave early this morning to perform the darshan of Icy Lingam.
He said out of 143,000 pilgrims who had performed darshan in holy cave so far 1,30,000 had reached Capital city of Srinagar while rest were on their way. The yatris who performed darshan at holy cave at late this evening will have a night halt at Baltal and Panchtarni where from they will proceed to their next destinations tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 2004 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for holy cave early this morning under tight security. They included 1393 male, 353 female, 18 children and 240 Sadhus.
They left in a cavalcade of 58 vehicles. All the yatris who crossed the Jawahar tunnel by this evening have reached their respective destinations Manigam transit camp and Nunwan Base camp when last reports came in. The yatris will proceed from here to holy cave early tomorrow morning.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
