Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 23: Over 6,000 pilgrims paid obeisance to Icy Lingam in holy cave of Swami Amarnath situated at an altitude of 14,000 feet in South Kashmir district of Anantnag on day 26 of darshan today.
According to an official spokesman, 6,943 pilgrims paid obeisance at holy cave today from both Baltal and Chandanwari tracks. With this the total number of yatris performing darshan in holy cave till this evening since the 44 day long pilgrimage started on June 28 has touched 3, 18, 668.
He said 3,656 pilgrims left from Baltal base camp to holy cave early this morning. Out of them 780 left by air. He said 2,853 pilgrims left from Nunwan, Pahalgam to holy cave. Besides the pilgrims having night halt at Sheshnag and Panchtarni also left for their onwards sojourn this morning, he added.
The spokesman said the condition of yatri who was injured in cylinder blast at Dumel -Baltal yesterday and was admitted in SKIMS Soura is stable.
He said the bodies of four persons who were killed in cylinder blast yesterday were handed over to their families today for last rites from Sonamarg Hospital. The dead bodies were kept in Hospital mortuary yesterday.
He said one pilgrim was injured after a fall from horse at Sheshnag today. He was identified as Vijay Kumar S/o Than Chand of Pathankote Punjab. The pilgrim had performed darshan in holy cave and was returning towards Pahalgam.
The spokesman said that the weather enroute to holy cave remained cloudy during the day. However the yatra proceeded smoothly.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 1443 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here for holy cave early this morning under tight security in a cavalcade of 37 vehicles.
They include 938 male, 389 female, 12 children and 104 Sadhus. All these yatris had reached their destinations in Kashmir Valley where from they will leave for onwards sojourn early tomorrow morning.
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