Avtar Bhat
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, July 6: With over 15,000 pilgrims paying obeisance to Ice Lingam at holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji situated at an altitude of 3880 meters in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir, the 40 day long Amarnath yatra has crossed one lakh during last eight days of darshan.
According to an official spokesman, 15,335 pilgrims performed darshan in the cave shrine today from both Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam tracks taking the total number of pilgrims who performed darshan during the last eight days in the holy cave to 1,05,380.
The spokesman said that the yatra is proceeding normally and the rush is increasing day by day as thousands of pilgrims report both the base camps daily to leave for darshan of holy cave. The pilgrims are in high spirits and the naturally formed Ice lingam at cave shrine is also in full size, he added.
He said that 5787 pilgrims left for holy cave from Baltal, Sonamarg base camp via Dumel track while 5688 pilgrims left the Nunwan-Phalagam base camp via Chandanwari -Sheshnag track today.
He said the weather to holy cave on both the tracks was pleasant during the day and as per the weather forecast it will be normal tomorrow also. The majority of pilgrims who performed darshan at holy cave have returned to their destinations while others are on way. The 40 day long yatra which started on June 29 with Pratham Poojan will culminate on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan on August 7.
Meanwhile a fresh batch of 2,513 pilgrims including 1863 male, 550 female and 100 Sadhus left the Bhagwati Nagar Jammu Yatri Niwas early this morning for base camps of Baltal and Nunwan where from they will start trekking for holy cave early tomorrow morning.
Chanting Bum Bum Bholey and “Barfani Baba Ki Jai” these yatris left under tight security arrangements in a cavalcade of 78 vehicles including 53 buses and 25 LMVs. All these pilgrims had crossed the Jawahar Tunnel by this afternoon and had reached their respective base camps when last reports came in.
Thousands of pilgrims are also reaching Jammu daily from different parts of country to leave for darshan of holy cave. The majority of them are the unregistered yatris who seek registration at Jammu. Hundreds of pilgrims in long queues were seen waiting in front of Token Centre at Rail Head Complex for their registration today. However, yatris are fully satisfied with the arrangements made by the Government for them.
Governor N.N Vohra who is also the Chairman of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, (SASB) today reviewed the pace of the ongoing Yatra, which commenced from both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes on June, 29. Umang Narula, Chief Executive Officer, SASB informed him that the yatra is proceeding smoothly and during last eight days 1,0,5380 pilgrims performed darshan at holy cave.
CEO further informed that two unauthorized persons who were selling Yatra helicopter tickets at exorbitant rates at Neelgrath, (district Ganderbal) had been arrested by Police. In this context, Governor cautioned all Yatris and Heli-passengers, as well as service providers to be cautious and not fall prey to any unscrupulous elements or self appointed agents and directed CEO to ensure a zero tolerance of any one found black-marketing or cheating Yatris. Governor asked DGP to issue strict orders in this regard to the district police.
CEO appealed to all pilgrims to obtain services only from the registered service providers and make payments only on the prescribed and displayed rates. He advised the Yatris to register their complaint, if any, with the Camp Director or Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board at phone 0194-2313148 or e-mail:sasbjk2001@gmail.com.
CEO informed that a meeting was held today to review the health facilities. Dr A S Ahangar, Director Health Services Kashmir, K S Chib, Additional Secretary to Government; Health and Medical Education Department, Arshad Rafi, Principal Regional Institute of Health & Family Welfare (Nodal Officer, SASB) attended the meeting.
It was again emphasized that doctors should be stationed at the entry and exit gates of the major Camps, including Sheshnag and Panjtarni, for random checkup of Yatris by visual appearance for early identification of illness, if any, and provide them medical assistance before they proceed further for Yatra. In addition, announcements should be made at various camps from the public address system that Yatris should approach the nearest medical camp and get themselves examined in case of any complaint.
CEO again urged the yatris to come well prepared with adequate woolen clothes, and shoes as in the Yatra area at times, the temperature can fall abruptly. He also advised the Yatris to prepare for the Yatra by achieving a high level of physical fitness and suggested that deep breathing exercises and Yoga be practiced regularly for improving respiratory efficiency. Health advisories have also been issued by SASB from time to time, and uploaded on the Shrine Board’s website: http://www.shriamarnathjishrine.com
Governor re-iterated his earlier directions to CEO and Addl. CEO to closely monitor the Yatra, ensure effective coordination with all the agencies involved in the conduct of the pilgrimage and ensure the safety and security of the Yatris particularly in regard to the forward movement of the pilgrims from the two base camps and onwards to the holy shrine.
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