Avtar Bhat
SRINAGAR/ JAMMU, July 4: With unabated rush of Shri Amarnath pilgrims continuing, 16,876 yatris coming from different parts of country paid obeisance to naturally formed Ice Lingam at holy cave on Day 6 of pilgrimage today.
With this, the total number of yatris, who performed darshan in holy cave since the yatra started on June 28 from Bhagawti Nagar Yatri Niwas, has touched 79,484 till date.
According to official sources, there is heavy rush of pilgrims at base camps of Nunwan in Pahalgam and Baltal, Sonamarg with thousands of yatris reporting there daily from different parts of the country to leave for holy cave. The base camps as well as other halting stations for pilgrims including Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni wore a festive look and there is total hustle and bustle every where as thousands of yatris are camping at these halting stations also, sources added.
The Government as well as Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) which manages the annual yatra has made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims right from Lakhanpur to holy cave and yatris have been provided fool proof security to avoid any untoward incident.
Sources said that ice Lingam at holy cave is in full size and that also attracts large number of pilgrims to have its darshan.
Sources said 7,145 pilgrims left for holy cave from Baltal base camp via shortest 14 km track this morning. They included 451 pilgrims who left via Choppper. Besides, 5866 pilgrims left Nunwan base camp to cave shrine via traditional Chandanwari-Nunwan track.
Sources said weather on both the tracks of holy cave was pleasant during the day.
Another batch of 1,786 pilgrims left Jammu Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for the high-altitude Amarnath cave shrine this morning under tight security arrangements.
Escorted by the CRPF, the pilgrims comprising 1,485 men and 301 women left in 53 vehicles in a convoy for Baltal and Pahalagam base camps this morning, officials said.
With today’s batch, a total of 17,146 pilgrims and Sadhus have left Jammu for Amarnath since the yatra began from Jammu on June 28.
12,000 pilgrims are staying at Baltal for night.
These yatris had crossed the Jawahar Tunnel by this afternoon, sources said.
Meanwhile, two pilgrims died today after paying obeisance at the 3,880-metre high holy cave, taking the death toll in the ongoing yatra to six, officials said.
Chander Shekher (73), resident of Karnataka, fell unconscious after performing ‘darshan’ near the cave shrine around 11.35 AM. He was rushed to base camp hospital where doctors declared him as brought dead, they said.
His body was handed over to his relatives for last rites, the officials said.
Shiva Kanth Mishra (59), resident of Uttar Pradesh, suffered cardiac arrest when he was retuning from the cave shrine, at Brarimarg along the Baltal-cave route resulting in his on the spot death, they said.
Their death raised the number of pilgrims, who died in the ongoing yatra, which began on June 29, to six.
Besides, an Assistant Sub-Inspector of ITBP died of heart attack at Brarimarg on June 28 during deployment of the forces along the tracks for the security of the pilgrims.
An Amarnath pilgrim was injured when he fell down at base camp Baltal this morning, official sources said.
They said Narinder Kumar from Punjab was injured after he fell down when he was climbing a hill. Kumar, who suffered injury in the leg was rushed to local base camp hospital.
However, he has been referred to Bone and Joint hospital, Barzulla Srinagar for treatment later.
The 40-day annual yatra, which commenced from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district, is scheduled to culminate on August 7, coinciding with the Raksha Bandhan festival.
Meanwhile, the current registration which was closed at Jammu yesterday due to heavy rush of pilgrims at both the base camps of Baltal and Nunwan has been resumed at all the four registration counters today.
Hundreds of pilgrims were seen waiting in long queues in front of registration counters for their turn from early in the morning today in the hot and humid temperature.
The rush of pilgrims is increasing in Jammu also day by day with thousands of pilgrims reaching the winter capital city daily to embark upon the yatra.
The authorities, besides the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas have made arrangements in Bapu Aasa Ram Ashram and various other community centers and bhawans for boarding and lodging of yatris.
Sources said the majority of pilgrims who performed the darshan at holy cave have returned to their homes while others are on way.
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