Ajay Raina
-Excelsior/Sajad Dar
JAMMU, July 11: Shri Amarnath Yatra is likely to cross the 2 lakh mark in next couple of days as around 1.80 lakh pilgrims have performed darshan in holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji situated at an altitude of 3,880 meters in deep Himalayas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag since commencement of the yatra on June 28.
According to an official spokesman, 12,587 pilgrims performed darshan in the cave shrine today taking total number of pilgrims to 1,80,251, who had performed darshan till late tonight since start of the pilgrimage.
He added that 6,653 pilgrims left Nunwan base camp for holy cave via traditional Chandanwari-Sheshnag track under tight security measures early this morning.
Besides 5,527 devotees left Baltal base camp via shorter track for holy cave while 1032 pilgrims performed the yatra by air. Out of 1032 pilgrims, 955 yatris returned back to base camp Baltal after paying obeisance at cave shrine.
He said the pilgrims who left via Baltal had reached the cave shrine by late in the evening while those who left via Chandanwari track after night halts at Sheshnag and Panchtarni respectively will reach holy cave a day after tomorrow.
He added the pilgrims reaching the Baltal camp till 1100 hours were allowed to proceed towards the cave shrine from the shorter route, adding that the gate was closed and nobody was allowed to move towards the shrine after 1100 hours as directed by Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB). However, from Pahalgam side, the pilgrims were allowed to proceed towards cave shrine from 0530 hours to 1200 hours.
The spokesman said pilgrimage was going on smoothly. He said the weather enroute to holy cave was clear on both the tracks.
Meanwhile, 15th batch of 2249 pilgrims left for the holy cave shrine from the Bhagwati Nagar, Yatri Niwas, in a cavalcade of 64 vehicles including 53 Heavy Motor Vehicles (HMVs) and 11 Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs), under tight security arrangements early this morning.
They include 1,665 males, 421 females, 25 children, 130 sadhus and 8 sadhvis. These pilgrims had crossed the Jawahar tunnel by the evening and were on the way to their next destinations.
The first bus left the base camp at 0414 hours while the last bus left at 0440 hours.
However, ‘Chhari Mubarak’, the silver Mace of Lord Shiva will be taken to Pahalgam on the occasion of ‘Vyas Purnima’ for ‘Bhoomi Pujan and Dhawajarohan’ tomorrow.
Mahant Deependra Giri, custodian of Chhari Mubarak said that as per age old traditions and rituals ‘Bhoomi-Pujan, Navgrah Pujan and Dhawajarohan’ connected with the commencement of annual yatra shall be performed at Pahalgam on auspicious occasion of ‘ Ashad Purnima (Vyas Purnima) tomorrow.
He said holy Mace will leave Dashnami Akhara near here at 0615 hrs tomorrow for Pahalgam.
After performing the rituals, the Chhari Mubarak will return to Dashnami Akhara in the afternoon.
However, pujan shall also be performed at historic Martand Temple at Mattan on way to Srinagar from Pahalgam.
Meanwhile, six Amarnath pilgrims were injured, when the Scorpio car (JK01M-0300) they were traveling in skidded off the road and plunged into gorge near Darend Nagbal in district Ganderbal this evening.
On getting information, police rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to district hospital, Ganderbal where they were undergoing treatment, when reports last came in.
The injured have been identified as Tanapal, Bhuminathan, Mohan Dass, Purshotam, Kalak Chalbi and Vijay Laxmi, all residents of Tamil Nadu.
A case in this regard has been registered and investigation started.
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