Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 2: With improvement in weather during last two days, the rush of pilgrims at holy cave of Swami Amarnath Ji has increased to a great extent with 22,550 yatris performing darshan of natural Ice Lingam on fifth day of darshan today.
The total number of pilgrims paying obeisance of Ice Lingam at holy cave situated at an altitude of 3880 metres in deep Himalyas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag since the first day of darshan on June 28 has touched 36,366.
According to a police officer on yatra duty, the yatris after performing darshan have started their return journey towards the base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam.
The weather remained cloudy on yatra tracks and it drizzled for some times during the day. However, the yatra was not disturbed and it moved smoothly, he added.
He said one Palanquin bearer (Palki wala) died of heart attack on way to holy cave from Baltal today. He was identified as Syed Mohammed Khan, S/o Sarwar Khan of Reasi Jammu. His dead body was brought to Baltal late this evening where from it will be taken to his home town for last rites tomorrow.
With this, three people including one yatri and BSF officer died during last five days of yatra, the police officer said.
He said 9,863 pilgrims left from Baltal base camp for darshan of holy cave early this morning by foot, while 545 pilgrims left via chopper. The officer said that 6,438 pilgrims left Baltal for Srinagar after performing darshan at holy cave.
He said 5,000 pilgrims left from Nunwan -Pahalgam to holy cave while about 2000 pilgrims, who were putting up in various lodges and hotels at Pahalgam, also left for darshan this morning.
Some of these pilgrims have reached Chandanwari for night halt while others were on way to Sheshnag, another transit camp on way to holy cave. He said the weather turned hostile again during the evening along the two tracks of holy cave and it started raining. The entire sky on yatra tracks is overcast with clouds, he added.
The spokesman said the yatris who had left Jammu early in the morning today also reached the Nunwan base camp by this evening and they will leave for the onwards sojourn tomorrow in case the weather remains pleasant and there is no rainfall.
He said over 7,000 pilgrims are camping at Nunwan base camp and in various hotels and lodges in Pahalgam.
To ensure hassle free yatra of pilgrims, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and State Government have made elaborate arrangements for pilgrims on both the tracks to holy cave especially on base camps and transit camps.
Meanwhile, 5th batch of 5,791 pilgrims chanting Bum Bum Bholey in 201 vehicles left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for holy cave early this morning under multi tier security.
Among them, 4,047 pilgrims opted for traditional and longest Pahalgam track while 1744 preferred to take the shortest Baltal track.
According to Nodal Officer for Amarnath Yatra, Arun Manhas over 4000 pilgrims are camping in Jammu at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas and other community centers and lodges.
A police officer from Kathua said that 4,500 pilgrims for holy cave crossed Lakhanpur from other States of the country by this evening. Besides, hundreds of yatris reached Jammu via train, he added.
It may be recalled that the Amarnath yatra which started on June 28 remained suspended at Pahalgam and Nunwan base camps for three consecutive days before resuming yesterday due to inclement weather and heavy rains that lashed the State.
The two month long yatra will culminate on August 26, the Raksha Bandan day which also coincides with Shravan Purnima.
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