By Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 20: With 4, 93, 681 pilgrims performing darshan in the cave shrine of Shri Amarnath Ji late tonight, the 46 day-long holy pilgrimage is set to cross the mark of five lakh by tomorrow. Despite cloudy weather conditions and down pour, 21,978 pilgrims performed darshan at holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji in Lidder Valley on 22nd day of the yatra today. According to a Yatra officer, braving the cloudy weather and rain in the yatra area, thousands of pilgrims left for cave shrine from base camps of Nunwan Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district besides other camps of Sheshnag and Panjtarni this morning.
Giving details, he said 10,244 pilgrims left from traditional Chandanwari track and shortest Baltal route for darshan of Ice Shivlingam this morning. A total of 5561 left via Nunwan-Chandanwari track while 4683 left via Baltal route.
With 4,73,6 81 pilgrims performing darshan in holy cave till last late last night, the total number of pilgrims paying obeisance in the cave shrine by late tonight has touched 4,95,659, the Yatra officer said, adding the yatra is set to cross five lakh mark by tomorrow.
He said large number of those yatris who had left from Baltal base camp today had performed darshan in holy cave while others were on the way. While the pilgrims who left via Nunwan - Chandanwari track after a night halt at Sheshnag and Panjtarni will leave for holy cave tomorrow.
He said thousands of pilgrims who had stayed at Sheshnag and Panjtarni haltage stations yesterday also left for the darshan of Ice Shivlingam this morning. While those who left from Panjtarni had performed darshan in the cave shrine up to this evening and those from Sheshnag were still on their way.
The Yatra officer said that the yatris who had performed darshan in holy cave yesterday were on their way back to Baltal and Nunwan base camps.
According to reports, four pilgrims died on their way to holy cave today. While three of them have been identified one of them is yet to be identified. The reports said that Raj Kumar Gupta, son of Virender Gupta of Jalsar Town of UP died during the intervening night of July 19 and 20 at Panjtarni due to cardiac arrest while Vithal Bhai 58 son of Amar Sopi Bhai died due to cardiac arrest at Nunwan. His body was handed over to his relatives.
Bhajan Lal, 69, son of Mool Chand of UP died at Panjtarni due to cardiac arrest today while one yatri died near holy cave this evening and he is still to be identified.
Meanwhile, amid tight security, the 21st batch comprising of 2,140 pilgrims today left for the holy cave from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here early this morning.
A total of 1,242 men, 571 women, 34 children and 293 Sadhus left around 0500 hours this morning in a cavalcade of 64 vehicles for the shrine.
Over 4,000 pilgrims have arrived in Jammu base camp from various parts of the country for their onward journey to cave shrine today. However, the unregistered yatris are still facing hurdles in getting themselves registered as a large number of them daily visit Shri Amarnath Yatri Niyas Office, Rehari for registration after failing to get themselves enrolled at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas.
Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) R K Goyal today said that as per Meteorological Department’s forecast for July 21 to July 25, the sky would be partly cloudy on July 21, 22 and 25 and there is possibility of light rains on July 23 and light rain and thundershowers on July 24 in Kashmir division.
Mr Goyal advised the yatris to ascertain the weather conditions in the yatra area before embarking on the pilgrimage. He also appealed to the pilgrims to obtain a yatra permit before embarking on the yatra to avoid facing inconvenience on arrival in the State.
Minister of State for Power, CAPD and Transport, Shabir Ahmed Khan today visited Yatri Niwas at Bhagwati Nagar to take stock of the arrangements there.
(http://www.dailyexcelsior.com/ 21.07.2011)
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