Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 13: A fresh batch of 22,084 pilgrims performed darshan at holy cave of Swami Amarnath Ji in South Kashmir district of Anantnag today.
With this the total number of yatris paying obeisance in the cave shrine since the yatra started on June 25 has touched 4,43,521. Over 4.21 lakh pilgrims had performed darshan in the cave shrine till late last night.
A Police spokesman said 10,638 pilgrims left from Nunwan Pahalgam via traditional Chandanwari track to holy cave while 10,000 pilgrims left via shortest 16 kilometer Baltal track.
He said the weather remained overcast with clouds and it rained for a while during the day in the cave shrine area. However the yatra was not affected.
Two pilgrims and one potter died enroute to holy cave today taking the death toll in ongoing yatra to 74, spokesman said.
He said a porter identified as Abdul Rehman Paddar ,65 of Anantnag died at Zojibal near Pahalgam due to cardiac arrest. While two pilgrims identified as Parkash Dab Kargi of Hyderabad (AP) died at Brarimarg this afternoon and Gopi Chand of MP died at Panchtarni this evening. Both of them died due to cardiac arrest, he added.
Meanwhile the Shrine Board and J&K Health Department has advised the pilgrims of Swami Amarnath Ji to have proper medical check up before embarking on the pilgrimage and follow the health advisory of the SASB.
A fresh batch of 3,199 pilgrims today left for 3888-metre-high Amarnath cave shrine situated from here amid tight security.
The pilgrims comprising 2,122 men, 747 women, 80 children and 250 sadhus left in a cavalcade of 102 vehicles from Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu Yatri Niwas at around 0500 hours for Amarnath, a police official said.
With today’s batch, as many as 67,676 pilgrims have left Jammu for their onward journey to the cave shrine.
It may be recalled that the 39 day long yatra will culminate with the darshan of Charri Mubarak at holy cave on Sawan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan on August 2.
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