Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 15: On the 18th day of yatra today, over 11,000 pilgrims paid obeisance at holy cave of Swami Amarnath in South Kashmir district of Anantnag.
Till date 1,87,375 pilgrims have performed the darshan of Ice KLingam at cave shrine since the two month long yatra started on June 28.
According a officer on yatra duty 11,331 pilgrims performed the darshan at cave shrine from both the tracks today and majority of them have started their return journey to base camp of Baltal and transit camp of Panjtarni on Pahalgam track.
He said the yatra is running smoothly from both the tracks and there is heavy rush of pilgrims both at Baltal base camp and Nunwan -Pahalgam Base Camp.
He said near 11000 pilgrims were staying at Baltal Base camp during last night out of which 6744 left for Srinagar on way to their home states while 3105 left for holy cave for darshan by foot and 1188 left by chopper. He said weather remained dry but cloudy during the day on both yatra tracks.
He said 3500 pilgrims left from Nunwan -Pahalgam to holy cave early this morning while the pilgrims camping at Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panjtarni transit camps also left for their onwards sojourn early this morning.
He said one pilgrim died at holy cave today due to cardiac arrest. He was identified as Rajesh Sharma, S/O Mohan Lal Sharma of Reva , MP. His body was handed over to family for last rites. With this the death toll in ongoing yatra has reached 25 so far.
Meanwhile, 2922 yatris left Bhagawati Nagar Yatri Niwas for twin base camps of Baltal and Nunwan -Pahalgam early this morning under tight security measures.
According to Yatra Nodal Officer, Arun Manhas said that over 3000 pilgrims are camping in Jammu at various lodges, community centers and Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas.
He said these yatris will leave for holy cave early tomorrow morning.
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