2 more pilgrims die, toll 10
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: With over 14,00 pilgrims performing darshan of Ice Lingam at holy cave of Lord Shiva situated at an altitude of 3880 metres in snow bound Himalayas of South Kashmir’s Anantnag district, over one lakh pilgrims have visited the cave shrine in last eight days since the 43 day long Shri Amarnathji yatra started on June 30.
As per reports, 14,306 pilgrims performed darshan at holy cave today. The total pilgrims performing the darshan of naturally formed Ice Lingam in cave shrine during last eight days have touched 1,0 2 542. About 88,236 pilgrims had performed darshan till yesterday evening.
Meanwhile, two pilgrims died due to various ailments on way to holy cave today. This took the death toll to 10 in last eight days of darshan. According to reports, a pilgrim identified as Raj Kumar from Gujarat passed away at SKIMS, Soura, Srinagar today where he was admitted after he complained severe chest pain on July 1. He breathed his last today.
Another pilgrim identified as Bay Verma, of Bulanshahar UP died at Baltal due to cardiac arrest today.
Reports said that there is unabated rush of pilgrims and thousands of yatris from different parts of country report at twin base camps of Baltal and Nunwan -Pahalgam daily. The pilgrims staying at the twin base camps started their journey early this morning towards holy cave while the yatris camping at Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni also began their onwards sojourn early this morning under tight security measures. The weather in yatra routes remained pleasant for the day, reports added.
Meanwhile, the eighth batch of over 5,700 pilgrims left from here today for the twin base camps of 3,880-metre-high cave shrine of Amarnath in South Kashmir Himalayas, amid tight security, officials said.
A total of 5,726 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here in a convoy of 242 vehicles amid heavy security of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), they said.
Of these, 4,384 are males, 1,117 females, 57 children, 143 Sadhus, 24 Sadhvis and one transgender, they said.
They said 2,109 pilgrims heading for Baltal were the first to leave the Bhagwati Nagar camp in 91 vehicles around 3.40 am followed by the second convoy of 151 vehicles carrying 3,617pilgrims for Pahalgam.
The 43-day long yatra commenced on June 30 from the twin tracks — traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam in South Kashmir’s Anantnag district and 14-km shorter Baltal in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
With this, a total of 57,328 pilgrims have left from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the Valley since June 29, the day the first batch of pilgrims was flagged off by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha.
The yatra is scheduled to end on August 11 on the occasion of Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan when holy mace of Lord Shiva led by its custodian Mahant Deependra Giri Ji Maharaj accompanied by Sadhus reaches the cave shrine for darshan. there is also a huge rush of pilgrims in Jammu as thousands of yatris are reaching here daily also for their onwards sojourn. Long queues of pilgrims were seen at different registration counters at Jammu waiting for their turn to seek registration slips.
The holy mace as per the tradition is taken to various ancient temples in Srinagar including Shankaracharya and Mata Sharika temples from its abode Dashnami Akhara before leaving for its final sojourn.
On its way to cave shrine from Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar, the holy mace first pays obeisance at ancient Durganag temple in Srinagar and later it performs darshan at temples of Pampore, Awantipora, Bijbehara, Mattan and Pahalgam.
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