Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 24: Over 13,000 pilgrims paid obeisance to Lord Shiva in 3888 metre high Himalayan cave in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district on 24th day of darshan today.
Officials said that today being the third Monday of Shravan considered the auspicious occasion as per Hindu mythology, the rush of pilgrims was considerably high today. The devotees were seen in long queues waiting for darshan at holy cave from early this morning, they added.
Officials said on the 24th day of 62 -day long pilgrimage of Amarnath Ji 13,249 yatris from twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan -Pahalgam performed darshan of Ice Shiv Lingam today. They included 10,457 male, 2,584 female, 92 children, 109 Sadhus and seven Sadhvis.
With this, a total number of 3,40,129 pilgrims visited holy cave during last 24 days. It may be recalled that by yesterday evening 3,26,900 pilgrims had performed darshan at cave shrine.
Officials said that the majority of pilgrims who performed darshan at cave shrine so far had returned to their home states while others are on the way. The pilgrims who performed the darshan at holy cave today also started their return journey to base camp of Baltal and transit camp of Panchtarni.
Officials said that the weather in entire cave shrine area remained overcast with clouds during the day and it drizzled for some time in holy cave area early this morning but the yatra plied smoothly from both the tracks.
One unidentified woman pilgrim from Maharashtra died after falling in Umravati river near holy cave today. She had gone to drink water in the stream but she slipped on the glacier and fell into the stream.
Her dead body was kept in the Base hospital near holy cave. Her identity has not been ascertained so far. With this, 37 yatris died during ongoing pilgrimage to holy cave. The breathlessness and cardiac arrest has been mainly ascertained the cause of death, officials said.
They said 9,370 pilgrims were halted at Baltal base camp during last night, while 3,910 were staying at Sheshnag during previous night. Besides, 2,683 pilgrims were staying at Nunwan-Pahalgam base camp during the night, they added.
Officials said the 22nd batch of 3,898 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Jammu Yatri Niwas for twin base camps of Nunwan -Pahalgam in Anantnag district of South Kashmir and Baltal in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir early this morning under tight security arrangements in a cavalcade of 149 vehicles.
Among them 2,606 pilgrims preferred the longest and traditional Nunwan-Pahalgam track while 1292 pilgrims opted for shortest but tough Baltal route.
They included 2,898 male, 898 female, 12 children, 79 Sadhus and 11 Sadhvis.
The 62 -day long yatra will culminate on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival falling on August 31 when holy mace of Lord Shiva from its abode Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar will reach cave shrine for darshan.
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