5 more pilgrims die, toll 24
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 14: While 24,545 pilgrims paid obeisance at Himalayan cave in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district today, a fresh batch of 7,245 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here under tight security arrangements early this morning.
Officials said that 24,545 yatris paid obeisance at holy cave from twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam today. This is the highest number of pilgrims performing obeisance on a single day in the cave shrine since the 62 day long yatra started on July 1 this year. It may be recalled that on July 10 this year, 24,228 pilgrims performed darshan at holy cave.
Reports reaching here said that there was huge rush at cave shrine today and the devotees were waiting in long queues for their turn of darshan. The rush continued from early morning to late night hours and authorities later stopped the darshan after it rained in the holy cave area.
Officials said that during last 14 days total number of 1,87,114 pilgrims paid obeisance in the cave shrine. Among them majority of pilgrims have returned to their home States while others are on way. The yatris who performed their darshan at holy cave today also started their return journey towards Baltal base camp and Panchtarni transit camp, officials said.
The pilgrims visiting holy cave expressed their satisfaction over the arrangements made by the Shrine Board and the administration.
Reports said with the improvement in weather, the influx of yatris from across the country has also increased. Thousands of pilgrims have reached Jammu through train and road transport by this evening.
The Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar wore a festive look as over 3000 pilgrims are camping there for night. The equal number of pilgrims is also camping in community halls and lodges in the city, officials said.
Meanwhile, all the 6000 pilgrims which were halted at Chanderkot Yatri Niwas yesterday by the authorities to avert heavy rush at holy cave left for Nunwan -Pahalgam base camp early this morning under tight security arrangements.
A fresh batch of 7,245 pilgrims left for the holy cave from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here in a cavalcade of 226 vehicles early this morning, officials said.
Among them 4,101 pilgrims preferred the longest and traditional Nunwan-Pahalgam track while 3,144 opted for shortest Baltal track.
Till date 60,245 pilgrims have left Jammu Yatri Niwas for holy cave in 12 batches. The 62 day yatra will culminate on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival falling on August 31 when the holy mace of Lord Shiva reaches cave shrine for darshan.
Meanwhile, the unregistered yatris reaching here have reiterated their plea to Shrine Board authorities of opening more offline registration counters at Jammu in view of heavy rush of pilgrims so that they had not to wait for more days in getting themselves registered.
Meanwhile, five Amarnath pilgrims died in the past 36 hours, taking the death toll during this year’s yatra to 24, officials said.
The five victims who died since Thursday morning included a Sadhu, they said. Most of the pilgrims died of cardiac arrest, the officials added.
While four people died on the Pahalgam axis of the yatra, one death occurred on the Baltal route, they said.
The pilgrims belonged to Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana and Gujarat. One victim is yet to be identified.
These five deaths have taken the toll during the yatra so far this year to 24. Among the victims are an Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Officer posted on yatra duty, a Sadhu and a Sevadar, according to the officials.
Cardiac arrest triggered by low oxygen concentration at high altitudes is one of the most common causes of fatalities among Amarnath pilgrims and security forces posted there.
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