Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 4: On day third of the yatra amid the chanting of Bum Bum Bhole and Baba Amarnath Ki Jai, over 16,000 pilgrims performed darshan of naturally formed Ice Lingam at the holy cave of Swami Amarnath Ji situated in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag at an altitude of 3880 meters.
According to an official spokesman, 16208 pilgrims performed darshan at cave shrine on the occasion of Somawati Amavasya today. With this, the total number of pilgrims paying obeisance to Ice Lingam at holy cave during last three days has touched 39,995 since the 48 day long Amarnath yatra commenced on July 2.
It may be recalled 23,787 pilgrims had performed darshan in holy cave during first two days of yatra. The spokesman said there is heavy rush of pilgrims from both the traditional Pahalgam and shortest Baltal tracks with thousands of pilgrims reporting daily at base camps of Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam for their onwards sojourn.
He said the weather was pleasant during the day today except half an hour drizzling near cave shrine in the morning but the yatra proceeded smoothly.
He said over 10,000 pilgrims are staying at Baltal base camp while equal number of yatris were camping at Nunwan Pahalgam.
Spokesman said 6889 yatris left the Baltal base camp for holy cave today while 6439 left from Nunwan -Pahalgam for cave shrine. The yatris from Baltal track will return to base camp after performing darshan at holy cave by this evening but those from Nunwan after three night haltage at transit camps of Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni will perform darshan at cave shrine on 4th day.
Meanwhile, one pilgrim died while a poney wala was injured at Panchtarni and Baltal respectively today. With the death of one more pilgrim today, the death toll in last three days has touched 2. The deceased yatri has been identified as Mohit Aggarwal son of Subash Aggarwal of Shanti Vihar Mandosar MP. He died after cardiac arrest.
The injured poney wala was identified as Gulzar Ahmed Pathania, son of Qamar -ud-Din of Ganiwan Kangan. He has been shifted to Bone and Joint Hospital Barzala Srinagar for treatment.
The yatra is going on smoothly though at some places the sky is partly cloudy, a yatra official said.
He said pilgrims who had darshan and stayed at the camp near the cave overnight have also started their return journey through the shortest route though some of them had returned yesterday itself after paying obeisance there. However some pilgrims prefer to return via traditional Pahalgam track, he added.
About 6439 pilgrims also left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp this morning for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional yatra route, he said, adding that some of them preferred to reach there in vehicles while others, including sadhus, covered the distance on foot.
Meanwhile, pilgrims who had night halt at Chandanwari and other halting stations on the traditional route have also started their onward journey towards the cave shrine early this morning.
The authorities have made all arrangements, including free langars, water, washrooms and media facilities at all halting stations besides at cave shrine and both base camps.
Majority of devotees, who had darshan during the first two days of the yatra have since returned to base camps. While some of them have left for their homes others stayed in Kashmir to visit tourist places.
The morale of the pilgrims is high and there is lot of enthusiasm among them also.
The fourth batch of 1,843 pilgrims comprising of 1,414 male, 332, females , 94 male Sadhus and three Sadhvis left in a cavalcade of 58 vehicles for holy cave under tight security early this morning from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here.
An official spokesman said that 25 vehicles left for Baltal and 33 for Pahalgam and all the pilgrims had crossed the Jawahar Tunnel by the evening and were heading towards the Pahalgam and Baltal base camps.
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