Jawan, 4 pilgrims die; toll 37
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 6: Despite the harsh weather conditions and tough terrain, a fresh batch of 22, 642 pilgrims performed darshan at holy cave of Swami Amarnath Ji in South Kashmir district of Anantnag today.
With this the total number of pilgrims paying the obeisance to Icy Lingam in holy cave has touched 2,56,223 since the 39 -day long -yatra started on June 25 an official spokesman said. He said 2,33,581 pilgrims had visited the holy cave at an altitude of 3,888 metres till yesterday.
The spokesman said that 8,780 pilgrims left Nunwan-Pahalgam base camp for holy cave early this morning while hundreds of pilgrims continued trekking from Nunwan to Chandanwari during the day. Besides 9,624 pilgrims left Baltal for holy cave this morning, he added.
The rush of pilgrims continued throughout the day as thousands of yatris reported at base camps of Nunwan and Baltal for their onwards sojourn. The spokesman said the weather was dry during the day but clouds overcast it during late night at different places.
Meanwhile four pilgrims and an Army jawan died of cardiac arrest enroute to the Amarnath shrine in south Kashmir, taking the death toll in the ongoing yatra to 37, officials said today.
The Jawan, identified as Naik Sant Lal, a resident of Haryana, collapsed during patrolling in Brarimarg area along Baltal-cave route, the officials said. Lal was rushed to hospital where he was declared brought dead.
The officials said three women pilgrims Gori Rani (35) and Santosh (45), both hailing from Punjab, and Barti (55) of Andhra Pradesh died at Baltal and Brarimarg last evening.
Another pilgrim, Ram Krishan (62) of Haryana, also suffered heart attack and died at Dumail on the Baltal-cave route yesterday, the officials said.
The annual yatra, which commenced on June 25 from the twin routes of Baltal in Ganderbal district and traditional Pahalgam in Anantnag district, was going on smoothly.
Meanwhile a fresh batch of 4,639 pilgrims today left for the holy Amarnath cave shrine situated in south Kashmir Himalayas under tight security arrangements.
Amid chants of ‘bam bam bhole’ the fresh batch this morning left from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas base camp here.
The batch comprising 3,123 males, 1,177 females, 137 children and 202 Sadhus this morning around 0500 hrs left for Amarnath in a convoy of 147 vehicles, including 51 SRTC buses, 57 private and 39 Light Motor Vehicles, an official spokesman said.
All these pilgrims have reached to their respective base camps till last reports came in where from they will leave to holy cave next morning.
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