Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 14: After remaining suspended for two day the holy Amarnath yatra was resumed via Jammu-Srinagar National Highway with 4633 pilgrims leaving for holy cave from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas early this morning under tight security measures.
The Yatra, however, continued smoothly from both Baltal and Chandanwari tracks and on the 13th day of Yatra today, 18,599 pilgrims paid obeisance at holy cave situated at an altitude of 3888 meters in Lidder Valley in South Kashmir’s district of Anantnag. With this the total number of pilgrims paying obeisance in cave shrine since two -month long yatra started from here on July 1 has touched 1,86,050.
Meanwhile, two more pilgrims died on way to holy cave today taking the death toll in ongoing yatra to 10. They included Sanjay Nadiya, S/o Tuka Ram of Pune Maharashtra and Rameshvar Ji, 65, S/o Prithviraj Ji, of Mawasiya district Mandasor, MP.
While Sanjay Nadiya died near Upper Railpathri on way to holy cave due to cardiac arrest, Rameshvar breathed his last at Baltal due to cardiac arrest. Their bodies have been handed over to their relatives for last rites.
According to an official spokesman, 7888 pilgrims left from shortest Baltal track to holy cave this morning while 1163 left by air to cave shrine. He said besides, 8219 pilgrims left via traditional Chandanwari track this morning from Nunwan -Pahalgam base camp.
The spokesman said the weather at twin base camps and on the tracks up to holy cave was pleasant today. And there is lot of hustle and bustle at both the base camps with thousands of pilgrims reporting daily for darshan.
The spokesman said the yatris who had taken the night halt at Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni also started their onwards journey this morning. The yatris, who performed the darshan in holy cave started their return journey towards Baltal and Panchtarni.
He said 1133 yatris left from holy cave to Baltal today by chopper after performing darshan. The spokesman said over 4000 yatris are camping at Baltal while over 3000 pilgrims had reached Nunwan-Pahalgam by this evening.
He said 4633 pilgrims left from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas to holy cave in a cavalcade of 119 vehicles under tight security measures this morning. They included 3302 male, 1012 female, 80 children and 238 Sadhus. All these vehicles barring one bus had crossed the Jawahar Tunnel by this evening and they were on their way to twin base camps of Nunwan and Baltal, the spokesman added.
He said one bus developed a mechanical fault at Ramban and it could not proceed further. However, the yatris were shifted to another bus, which was brought from Udhampur.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
