AMARNATH PILGRIMAGE: At least 1.5 lakh pay obeisance in 15 days

SRINAGAR: About 6000 pilgrims, including women and sadhus, on Friday left for holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, where so far over 1.52 yatries had paid obeisance since the commencement of the 60-day-long pilgrimage from June 28 from both traditional Pahalgam and shortest Baltal tracks.

Meanwhile, 20 pilgrims besides two service providers, have died due to health reasons and accidents during the first 15 days of pilgrimage till yesterday.
Officials said that pilgrimage was progressing smoothly to holy cave shrine from both sides.

They said On the 15th day of the ongoing pilgrimage yesterday about 18500 Yatris paid obeisance at the Holy Cave yesterday. With this a total of 1,52, 000 Yatris had performed darshan of the Holy Shivling so far.

A fresh batch of about 3800 pilgrims left Baltal base camp for the holy cave shrine early Friday morning. The pilgrims are scheduled to pay obeisance at the cave shrine after covering the 14-km-long hilly track on foot this afternoon. Meanwhile, pilgrims who had night halt at a camp after darshan yesterday, have started their return journey to base camp this morning.

Similarly, a fresh batch of about 2200 pilgrims also left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the first halting station on traditional track, which could be reached by vehicles also. Meanwhile, pilgrims who had night halt at Chandanwari and other halting station on the route have also started their journey on foot towards the cave shrine early this morning.

Meanwhile, officials said that 20 pilgrims and two yatra providers have died so far since the commencement of the yatra.

They said 14 pilgrims died due to medical reasons and 8 pilgrims died in accidents at different locations.

The mortal remains of 17 deceased Yatris and 1 Service Provider were transported by air to nearest to their homes airports in Bihar, West Bengal, Hyderabad, Gujarat and New Delhi.

The bodies of 3 deceased Yatris and 1 Service Provider were transported by road to their native places. The Board has also borne the cost of travel of one person who will escort the mortal remains of the deceased pilgrim to his or her home town. As on July 11, 2018 the Board had paid Rs 24 lakh as ex-gratia and spent about Rs 5 lakh on account of transportation cost of the mortal remains of deceased Yatris to their home towns along with one attendant.

As on July 12, 2018, 69 Yatris had been admitted to SKIMS out of whom 58 have been discharged and the rest are still under treatment.