Yatra crosses 1.5 lakh
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 14: Seven people including two porters were reported to have died on way to holy cave since last night while despite the incessant rains during the day, over 11,000 pilgrims performed darshan of naturally formed Ice Lingam or Lord Shiva in cave shrine on 15th day of darshan today since the 43 day long yatra started on June 30 this year.
As per reports, seven people including five pilgrims and two porters died in the holy cave area at different spots since last night. While the pilgrims died of cardiac arrest and breathlessness, the two porters died after a fall due to slippery track. All the deaths have been reported on Nunwan Chandanwari track to holy cave.
According to an official spokesman, though the incessant rain disrupted the movement of yatra on holy cave tracks during the day, 11,768 pilgrims performed darshan of naturally formed Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva in the cave shrine of Shri Amarnathji situated in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district today. Click here to watch video
With this, a total of 1,51,768 pilgrims performed darshan at cave shrine during last fortnight. The majority of these pilgrims have returned to their home States while others are on way.
The official said that among the dead included Govind Saran, son of Murari Lal of Surirkalan Bagar, Mathura UP who died due to cardiac arrest at Panchtarni today. His dead body has been kept at Sonamarg mortuary and will be shifted o his native place after completing formalities.
Kalavala Subramanyan, 60, son of Kalavala Ramnath of Ananthapuram, Andhra Pradesh died at Lower holy cave due to cardiac arrest after performing darshan. Karelia Kanaklal Dhamji Bhai, 66, son of Karelia Dhamji Bhai of Rajkot Gujrat died at Hotel Regent in Pahalgam due to cardiac arrest today. His body has been kept at Pahalgam base Hospital mortuary and will be handed over to his relatives after completing formalities, Satyavir Singh, son of Pritam of Haryana also died due to natural death on holy cave track and further details about him are awaited, official said.
The official said two porters also died after slipping. One of them has been identified as Imtiyaz Ahmed, 22,of Zabilpora Bijbehara. He died after his horse slipped near Sangam. His body was taken to Baltal base camp for completion of legal formalities. Another portal also died on way to cave shrine after fall and his details are awaited.
Official said that one pilgrim identified as D N Basavraja, 68, son of Nanjapa of Mysore Karnataka died of cardiac arrest late last night. His body was shifted to Sonamarg mortuary this morning. With this, 26 people have died during ongoing yatra, excluding 15 pilgrims who died in the Friday flash floods near holy cave.
Meanwhile, five women were among 37 Amarnath pilgrims, who got injured in a road accident at Qazigund on Srinagar-Jammu National Highway today, officials said here.
They said a bus carrying Amarnath devotees from Jammu met with an accident near Badragund area of Qazigund in South Kashmir’s Kulgam district, injuring at least 37 pilgrims.
The pilgrims were discharged after first aid at Qazigund Hospital and three seriously injured were shifted to Government Medical College Anantnag for treatment.
Lt Governor. Manoj Sinha has given instructions to Principal GMC Anantnag that injured people be given proper care during their treatment in the Hospital.
However, the rush of Amarnath pilgrims continues with thousands of pilgrims still camping at base camps of Baltal, Nunwan and camps of Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni.
Reports said that 3743 pilgrims were camping at Nunwan base camp last night while 6340 were at Sheshnag, 6770 at Chandanwari and 16,722 pilgrims were at Baltal base camp.
Officials said that thousands of pilgrims are also reaching Jammu daily from different parts of the country and 3600 Amarnathji bound yatris crossed the gateway of Lakhanpur in Kathua district by this evening while thousands more came through train and by air.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 5449 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for holy cave early this morning under tight security arrangements in a cavalcade of 201 vehicles.
Among them, 3783 preferred the longest and traditional Chandanwari track while 1666 pilgrims opted for the shortest Baltal route.
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