Yatri dies of cardiac arrest, 3 hurt in mishap
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 4: Over 24,000 pilgrims paid obeisance at naturally formed Ice Shivlingam at Himalayan cave in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on the sixth day of pilgrimage today while a fresh batch of 5696 yatris drawn from different parts of the country left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas towards twin base camps of Baltal in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district and Nunwan -Pahalgam in Anantnag district under tight security measures early this morning.
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Officials said on the sixth day of darshan today, 24,978 pilgrims paid obeisance at holy cave of Swami Amarnath Ji by this evening. They said one pilgrim died near cave shrine this evening after performing darshan due to cardiac arrest.
He has been identified as Sandeep Katia, 50, son of Sita Ram of Bhandra, Mumbai. His ID number is 872999. His body has been shifted to a local hospital for performing of legal formalities, officials said.
Officials said among the 24,978 pilgrims who performed darshan today at holy cave included 16,667 male, 5367 female, 354 children, 520 Sadhus, two Sadhvis and seven others besides 2061security personnel and service providers.
Officials said till date, 1,30,260 pilgrims visited holy cave from different parts of country since the 52 day pilgrimage stared June 29. The weather in holy cave area remained partially cloudy but dry and yatra plied normally from both the tracks and the chopper service also continued during the day.
Officials said the pilgrims who had reported at base camps of Nunwan-Pahalgam and Baltal Sonamarg yesterday left for holy cave early this morning. Besides, pilgrims having night halt at Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni also left for their onwards sojourn this morning.
Officials said thousands of pilgrims are camping at Baltal and Nunwan base camps as well as other haltage camps on yatra route.
The pilgrims who paid obeisance at cave shrine started their return journey towards Baltal and Panchtarni, officials said.
Among the 5696 pilgrims who left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here this morning, 2028 preferred the shortest Baltal track while 3668 left via longest and traditional Pahalgam Chandanwari track. All these pilgrims had reached their respective base camps by this evening.
Meanwhile, an 80 year old Sadhu, Narsingh Dass has inspired every one with his incredible bicycle journey to holy cave. He started his journey from Himachal Pradesh a fortnight ago for Shri Amarnath Yatra on his bicycle and today he reached Udhampur district on the way to cave shrine.
The Sadhu said that this is not his first yatra to holy cave but he has travelled to Shri Amarnath Ji and other shrines many times on bicycle in past also. He said it is all will of Bhole Baba who gives him courage and power otherwise he can’t do it.
On the sixth day of darshan the heavy influx of pilgrims from other states of country continues and thousands of yatris reached here today also. Officials said over 4000 yatris are camping at Yatri Niwas Bhagwati Nagar while equal number is camping at Saraswati and Vaishnavi Dhams near Railway Station. The Yatris who reported at Yatri Niwas today will leave for twin base camps early tomorrow morning.
Officials said three Amarnath pilgrims and two civilians were injured in a road accident in Kangan area of Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district today.
They said the accident took place at Satrina -Kangan when vehicle carrying the pilgrims on way to Baltal to pay obeisance at holy cave collided with another vehicle coming from opposite side resulting in injuries to three devotees and two civilians of another vehicle.
According to reports, an Amaze vehicle bearing Registration Number PB10HZ-6707 traveling from Srinagar to Baltal with yatris collided with an auto load carrier bearing Registration Number JK16A-9084 coming from the opposite direction resulting in injuries to three yatris. They have been identified as 16 year old Maneysood, 48 year old Kiran and 51 year old Jagdesh Kumar all residents of Ludhiana, Punjab.
Two locals identified as Javaid Ahmed, son of Ghulam Nabi, resident of Handwara and Muzaffar Ahmed, son of Abdul Rehman, resident of Nizampora Kangan, were also injured in the accident.
All five injured individuals were brought to Sub-District Hospital (SDH) Kangan for treatment, where all three Yatris were referred to SKIMS Soura for further treatment.
Kangan police has registered a case in this regard and started further investigation.
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