Mild rain, hailstorm lash cave shrine area
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 11: Despite the downpour and hailstorm that lashed the yatra area this evening, over 16000 pilgrims drawn from different parts of the country paid obeisance to the naturally formed ice Shivlingam in Himalayan cave in South Kashmiri’s Anantnag district while a fresh batch of 4885 Yatris left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas early this morning for twin base camps of Nunwan -Pahalgam and Baltal Sonamarg, under tight security arrangements in a cavalcade of 191 light and heavy vehicles.
Officials said that on the 13th day of pilgrimage, 16,578 yatris performed darshan at holy cave from twin tracks of Baltal and Chandanwari by this evening. They also included over a thousand pilgrims who reached cave shrine through special choppers.
Officials said though a downpour and hailstorm lashed the yatra area during this evening for a brief time but the yatra was not disturbed and it proceeded normally from both the tracks.
With 16,578 pilgrims paying obeisance at cave shrine situated at 3888 meters above sea level the total number of yatris visiting Shri Amarnath Ji since 52, day pilgrimage started on June 29 has touched 2,66,955, officials said.
They said that there is no decline in the yatra rush and pilgrims are very much enthusiastic and in high spirits and they are enjoying the pilgrimage. The yatris also expressed satisfaction over the facilities provided by the administration, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and other philanthropist organizations including Sewadars, service providers, police and security forces.
The Yatris said the arrangements made by the Health Department at base and camp hospitals are considerably better this time than previous years. Raman Devi, a pilgrim from Patna Bihar said that she was totally impressed with the quick action of doctors at Base Hospital near holy cave who provided immediate oxygen to 10 pilgrims who complained breathlessness after trekking the terrain from Baltal to cave shrine yesterday. The timely action of doctors and CMO at holy cave gave a lease of life to these pilgrims, she added.
Officials said the pilgrims who performed darshan at cave shrine by this evening started their return journey to Baltal base camp and Panjtarni haltage camp.
Meanwhile, among the 4885 pilgrims who left Bhagwati Nagar for twin base camps early this morning included 3622 male, 1086 female 14 children, 114 Sadhus and 52 Sadhvis, officials said. They said among them 1248 preferred shortest Baltal track in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district while 2374 preferred Nunwan -Pahalgam track in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
All these pilgrims have reached their respective destinations by this evening where from they will leave for holy cave early tomorrow morning, officials said adding the pilgrims who reached the twin base camps yesterday started their onwards sojourn to holy cave early this morning.
Officials said that thousands of pilgrims are daily reaching Jammu from different parts of country for their onwards journey to holy cave. Officials said about 4000 pilgrims have managed their entry at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas by this evening where from they will leave for twin base camps early tomorrow morning.
Meanwhile, least five pilgrims of Shri Amarnath Yatra this evening suffered injuries when a bus ferrying them met with an accident near Ban Toll in Nagrota area here in the city outskirts.
Police said that a bus ferrying Shri Amarnath Yatra pilgrims on its way from Baltal towards Jammu, collided with another vehicle near Ban Toll. “Five passengers suffered injuries in the mishap,” said police. They said that police and army teams on patrol immediately swung into action.
Jammu based PRO Defence said posted on ‘X’ a Yatri bus returning from Amarnath Yatra met with an accident near #Ban Toll Nagrota on NH 44. #Indian Army in a swift coordinated action with civil administration rescued the yatris.”
“Passengers stuck inside the bus were extricated and those with serious injuries were evacuated. Army medical team responded immediately and provided vital medical aid to the injured passengers on the spot,” he posted. The injured, however, after first aid were shifted to the Yatri Niwas base camp in another vehicle. Police however, have registered a case and started the investigation.
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