5,667 pilgrims pay obeisance

SRINAGAR: As many as 5667 yatris paid obeisance at the holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, where 230007 pilgrims had darshan of the Ice-Shivlingam since the commencement of the yatra from June 28, even as the 21st batch of Amarnath pilgrims today left the base camp Jammu for Valley as traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway was restored after remaining suspended for several hours following a landslide.

A 53-year-old yatri from Uttar Pradesh (UP) died due to cardiac arrest near holy shrine, taking the death toll in his year’s pilgrimage to 33.

“On the 24th day of the 60-day-long pilgrimage, 5667yatris paid obeisance today,” an official spokesman said here on Saturday evening.

He said the pilgrimage is going on smoothly from shortest Baltal and traditional Pahalgam tracks and so far 230007 pilgrims had darshan of shivlingam.

Early this morning, after receiving a green signal from the traffic authorities, the officials said a fresh batch of 1,632 pilgrims, including 428 women and 50 sadhus, were allowed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for Kashmir under tight security cover in the wee hours today.

While 1,011 pilgrims, including 184 women and 50 sadhus, headed for the Nunwan base camp to undertake the yatra to the 3,880 metre high holy cave shrine of Amarnath from the traditional 36-km Pahalgam track, 621 people, including 244 women, headed for the Baltal base camp after choosing the 12-km shorter route to the shrine, the officials said.

A massive landslide struck the Jammu-Srinagar national highway at Digdole near Ramban yesterday, leaving hundreds of vehicles stranded. However, after hectic efforts by the concerned agencies, the road was cleared and thrown open for traffic last night.

Meanwhile, a 53-year-old yatri from Uttar Pradesh (UP) died due to cardiac arrest near holy Amarnath cave shrine, an official said here on Saturday.
A yatri identified as Sugreev, son of Ram Kishore, resident of Chbipora Ambedkar, UP, suffered a massive cardiac arrest near holy cave. He was rushed to nearby medical camp where he was declared brought dead.

With this the death toll of pilgrims and service providers has reached 33 since the commencement of the 60-day-long yatra from June 28.