Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 25: After remaining suspended yesterday due to bad weather and heavy rains, the yatra was resumed from Baltal track to holy cave this morning. Besides, the chopper service which also remained suspended for two days resumed today to holy cave.
An officer on yatra duty said that yatra was resumed from Baltal track this morning after weather improved. He said the chopper service was also resumed after remaining suspended for two days owing to bad weather.
He said over 4502 pilgrims paid obeisance at holy cave of Swami Amarnath situated at an altitude of 3880 meters above the sea level in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag on 28th day of darshan today from both shortest Baltal and traditional Chandanwari tracks.
He said till date 2,46,667 pilgrims have performed darshan of cave shrine since the two month long yatra started on June 28. Among them majority of pilgrims have returned to their home states while others are on the way. He said the yatra is running smoothly from both the tracks.
He said 1588 pilgrims left from Baltal to holy cave this morning while 882 left by chopper. Besides, 2000 pilgrims staying at Baltal for night halt yesterday after coming from darshan left for Srinagar today. The officer said about 5000 pilgrims are staying at Baltal for the night halt today. They also included those pilgrims who returned to base camp after performing darshan at holy cave by this evening.
The Officer said the 1441 pilgrims left for holy cave from Nunwan -Pahalgam base camp via Chandanwari track this morning. Moreover, the pilgrims having night halt at transit camps of Sheshnag and Panjtarni also left for their onwards sojourn.
He said two persons including a pilgrim died near Baltal today. While the pilgrim was identified as M Radha, W/O M Anjali Rao of Orissa, the identity of another was yet to ascertained. He died in mysterious circumstances at a langer, officer said.
He said the pilgrims died of cardiac arrest and her dead body was taken to mortuary at Sonamarg in Ganderbal district of South Kashmir. With this the death toll in ongoing yatra has reached 31, he added.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 1007 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for twin base camps of Nunwan Pahalgam and Baltal early this morning under tight security arrangements, Yatra Nodal Officer, Arun Manhas said.
He said 760 fresh pilgrims including 93 Sadhus were registered at three registration counters of Jammu today. All these pilgrims will leave for twin base camps of Nunwan-Pahalgam and Baltal in Kashmir Valley on their way to holy cave tomorrow.
The two -month long yatra will culminate on Sawan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan falling on August 26 after the holy mace of Lord Shiva taken from Dashnami Akhara Srinagar will reach cave shrine.
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