5 pilgrims die, 5 hurt in accident
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 12: While the 10th batch of over 7,800 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here, early this morning for twin base camps of Nunwan-Pahalgam and Baltal, over 9000 pilgrims paid obeisance at holy cave by this evening.
Officials said 9,155 pilgrims paid obeisance at 3880 meter Himalyan cave from twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan –Pahalgam by this evening. With this, the total number of pilgrims offering prayers at cave shrine in last 12 days since the 62 day yatra started on July 1 has touched 1,46,510.
The Indian Badminton player and former World number 1, Saina Newal also paid obeisance at holy cave today.
Officials said that five pilgrims died during last 24 hours enroute to holy cave at different places on twin tracks and the death toll in ongoing pilgrimage has reached 19.
Officials said the pilgrims died of cardiac arrest.
Three deaths took place on Pahalgam Axis while two deaths took place on Baltal route, officials added.
Among them two pilgrims each belonged to UP and MP while the other yatri is yet to be identified, they said.
Officials said that all the 5000 pilgrims camping at Chanderkot Yatri Niwas in Ramban district also left for twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam early this morning under tight security measures.
Officials said the yatra resumed from the Jammu base camp on Tuesday afternoon after remaining suspended for three days in view of the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway for repairs in Ramban section.
Officials said a total of 7,805 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here for the Valley in a convoy of 339 vehicles around 3.15 am, under tight security arrangements.
They said 4,677 pilgrims left for Nunwan -Pahalgam base camp in a convoy of 207 vehicles and 3,128 pilgrims proceeded for the Baltal base camp in a convoy of 132 vehicles.
With this, 56,303 pilgrims have now departed the Jammu base camp for the Valley since June 30, when the first batch began the yatra.
“We are happy that our prayers were heard by Lord Shiva who facilitated our pilgrimage to his abode,” Sunita Devi of Assam said. She was with a group of 23 people and was stranded in Jammu for the last seven days.
Expressing happiness and appreciation that the administration reconstructed within hours the road damaged due to floods triggered by heavy rains, she said “they have fulfilled my wish of visiting Barfani Baba”.
The incessant rains on Saturday and Sunday caused unprecedented damage to the highway, especially a stretch in Ramban district, forcing its closure.
Meanwhile, unabated rush of pilgrims from across the country continues despite the bad weather conditions and heavy rains. Thousands of pilgrims from different parts of country reached here by this evening, officials said.
Reports reaching here from Kathua said that about 2000 yatris who were camping at different community halls in the district also left for Jammu this morning for their onwards journey to holy cave.
All the pilgrims were in good spirits and they were jubilant when granted permission to leave for darshan in the morning. The pilgrims complimented Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and the administration for the arrangements. They said despite remaining stranded for days together due to heavy rains and damage to National Highway they did not face any problem of food and shelter.
The Government deserves all appreciation in restoring the NH on war footing basis, said Kapil Kumar, a pilgrim from Varanasi UP who is visiting the holy cave for third time this year.
He said he saw total change this time as authorities, are fully responsive to pilgrims needs and officials on yatra duty are rendering full cooperation to ensure that the pilgrims don’t face any inconvenience, he added.
Reports said 1338 yatris are camping for night at different community halls in Samba.
Reports said that the weather in holy cave and yatra routes was dry during the day but it rained in the evening for some time.
Officials said five Amarnath bound pilgrims were injured when a Etios car collided with road side Parapet at Samroli near Chenani, National Highway in district Udhampur when they were on way to Kashmir.
According to police, an Etios car bearing Registration Number HR26CA-5929, carrying Amarnath pilgrims was on way from Jammu to Baltal base camp when the driver of the vehicle lost control over the vehicle and it collided with a roadside Parapet at Samroli near Chenani, National Highway about 6:30 this morning.
After receiving information, a police party led by SDPO, Chenani, Sheikh Tahir Amin and SHO Chenani, Inspector S.D Singh rushed to the spot and took the injured persons to SDH Chenani where two of them were referred to DH Udhampur in view of their critical condition.
The injured persons were identified as Bajnath Misra (58) son of Ram Surat Mishra, Amar Nath Panda (60) son of Vhikhi Panda, Sarla Panda (58) wife of Amar Nath Panda, Sunita Misra (55) wife of Baij Nath Mishra, all residents of Prayagraj Uttar Pradesh (UP) and vehicle driver Junaid Muzaffar (28), son of Mohd Muzaffar resident of Catherbal Srinagar. Chenani police registered the case and started investigation.
Follow our WhatsApp channel
