2 pilgrims die, toll 49; 1782 leave Jammu, 6064 pay obeisance

21st day of Amarnath Yatra

Jammu: With the death of two Shri Amarnath Ji yatris, a 63-year-old woman here at Yatri Niwas, Ravidass Temple, Jammu and a 60-year-old man at Pissu Top, Pahalgam, total 49 pilgrims have died during the annual pilgrimage as on date.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 1782 pilgrims comprising 1,278 men, 404 women and 100 sadhus left in a convoy of 85 vehicles for Baltal and Pahalgam base camps from Jammu this morning to have the darshan of the Ice Lingham at the holy cave shrine.
Total 6,064 Yatris also paid obeisance at the holy cave and cumulatively since the beginning of the pilgrimage, 2, 22, 619 Yatris had darshan at the holy cave.
According to police sources, one woman yatri, identified as Shanti Bai (63) wife of Reba Ram Jatt of District Dewas, Madhya Pradesh was found dead at Yatri Niwas, Ravi Dass Temple, Krishna Nagar, Jammu.
Canal Road Police have launched the inquest proceedings to ascertain the reasons behind the death of the woman.
A 60-year-old pilgrim from Madhya Pradesh died on his way back from the Amarnath shrine, a police official said.
Romeshwar Patidar died at Pissu Top, on his way back from the cave to Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam last evening, he said.
He said the cause of Patidar's death is being ascertained.
With this, the death toll of pilgrims due to natural causes this year has risen to 21.
While eight pilgrims were killed in the militant attack on a bus of yatris on 10 July, 20 other pilgrims have died in various road accidents.
Chief Executive Officer of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, Umang Narula said that as per the chairman, N N Vohra's directions, the SASB has borne all costs for sending the mortal remains by air to the home towns of the pilgrims, in whatever circumstances they had died.
"In 37 cases, the board had also borne the cost of providing an escort and attendant to deliver the coffin to the deceased pilgrim's home town. Till date, the board had incurred Rs 14.66 lakh on account of transportation costs and Rs 1.34 crore towards payment of ex-gratia relief," he said.
This year's yatra will be eight days shorter than last year's and will conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on August 7.