Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 5: With over 15,000 pilgrims performing darshan at holy cave today, the number of yatris visiting the shrine since the 55 day long Swami Amarnath pilgrimage started on June 28 has crossed the one lakh mark.
According to an official spokesman, 15,090 pilgrims performed darshan in the cave shrine situated at an altitude of 14,000 feet in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag today.
With this, the total pilgrims performing darshan at holy cave during last eight days of yatra has touched 1,03,027 the spokesman said, adding 97,937 yatris have performed darshan in the holy cave till last night.
Spokesman said the majority of these yatris had left for their home States while those who performed darshan today started their return journey from shorter Baltal and traditional Panjtarni and Sheshnag tracks.
The spokesman said that 4,889 pilgrims left Nunwan-Pahalgam base camp for holy cave via traditional Chandanwari track early this morning under tight security arrangements. These pilgrims after a night halt at Shesh Nag and Panjtarni will perform darshan in the cave shrine tomorrow or day after tomorrow.
He said 6200 pilgrims left from Baltal base camp for holy cave via shortest track this morning. They included yatris who performed pilgrimage by air also, he added.
He said these yatris have performed darshan in the cave shrine and had started their return journey.
The weather on Nunwan to holy cave as well as Baltal to holy cave was pleasant during the day, the spokesman said, adding the sky was however cloudy at cave shrine.
He said two pilgrims died on way to holy cave during last two days. They were identified as 50 year old Krishan Kunji of Gujarat and 51 year old Ashwani Bahi Patil of Ratlam Madhya Pradesh.
Spokesman said Krishan Kunji suffered a cardiac arrest late last evening at Bhawan and was admitted in a medical aid centre where he died.
His body is being handed over to his relatives after completion of formalities. Ashwani Bhai also died of heart attack between Chandanwari and Sheshnag late last night.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 1,957 pilgrims left for holy cave from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas under tight security arrangements early this morning in a cavalcade of 69 vehicles.
These pilgrims included 1,412 male, 421 female, 24 children and 100 Sadhus. The cavalcade had crossed the Jawahar tunnel by the evening and were heading for their respective destinations in the Valley when last reports came in.
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