3 more pilgrims die, toll 30
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 17: On the 17th day of yatra, over 22,000 pilgrims paid obeisance to naturally formed Ice Lingam of Lord Shiva in cave shrine of Amarnath Ji in deep Himalayas of South Kashmir by this evening.
Today being the auspicious occasion of Somvati Amavasya of Shravan, there was huge rush of pilgrims at holy cave who were seen waiting in long queues from early in the morning, officials said.
They said by this evening 22,262 pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine from twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan-Pahalgam. With this, the total number of pilgrims who visited the holy cave in last 17 days has touched 2,51,438.
Officials said the weather in entire yatra route and holy cave was partially cloudy and the yatra plied normally from both the tracks.
Officials said that three more Amarnath pilgrims have died, taking the death toll during this year’s pilgrimage in the South Kashmir Himalayas to 30.
It may be recalled that 27 pilgrims had died on their way to holy cave at various places till yesterday.
The three pilgrims who died since late last night belonged to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, officials said.
Two of the pilgrims died of cardiac arrest, while the cause of the death of the third was being ascertained, the officials added.
While two people died on the Pahalgam route of the yatra, one death occurred on the Baltal track, they said.
These three deaths have taken the toll during the yatra so far this year to 30.
Among the victims were an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officer posted on yatra duty, a Sadhu and a Sevadar, according to the officials.
Cardiac arrest triggered by low oxygen concentration at high altitude is one of the most common causes of fatalities among Amarnath pilgrims and security forces posted there.
Meanwhile a fresh batch of 6,216 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here for twin base camps of Nunwan-Pahalgam and Baltal under tight security arrangements in a cavalcade of 225 vehicles early this morning.
Among them, 3164 preferred the traditional and longest Nunwan-Pahalgam track while 3,052 pilgrims opted for shortest Baltal route. They included 4204 male, 1871 female, 16 children, 78 Sadhus and 47 Sadhvis, officials said.
They said that 25,657 pilgrims were staying at Baltal Base camp last night. Among them 4,613 left for holy cave while 8570 left for their home States this morning.
Officials said 8635 pilgrims had a night halt yesterday at Nunwan base camp and among them 8237 left for holy cave this morning while 264 left for their home States.
Officials said 5092 pilgrims were staying at Sheshnag transit camp during last night while over 7000 were camping at Panchtarni, the last transit camp on way to holy cave via Pahalgam-Nunwan track.
Officials said the unabated rush of pilgrims despite the heavy rains which lashed many parts of the country and J&K is still continuing as thousands of pilgrims reach here daily from different parts of country through train and road transport.
Huge number of pilgrims are daily seen in long queues in front of the offline registration centres here. The authorities have made elaborate arrangements for the lodging and boarding of pilgrims in the city. Besides, the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas, various community halls and lodges have been kept at the disposal of visiting pilgrims.
The 62-day annual pilgrimage to the 3,888-metre-high cave shrine in the South Kashmir Himalayas commenced from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on July 1. The yatra is scheduled to conclude on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival on August 31.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
