Amarnath Yatra crosses 3.43 lakh pilgrim mark

Chhari Mubarak pilgrimage to commence on July 29

Jammu Tawi, Jul 16: The 57-day long Amarnath Yatra continued to witness an overwhelming response from devotees as 19,357 pilgrims paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine on Thursday, taking the total number of yatris who have performed darshan during the first 14 days of the pilgrimage to 3,43,882.

According to official figures, those who performed darshan on Thursday included 14,430 men, 4,459 women, 186 children, 84 sadhus, eight sadhvis, five transgender pilgrims and 185 security personnel.

A fresh batch of 5,201 pilgrims undertaking the annual pilgrimage left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu during the early hours of Thursday under multi-layered security arrangements and arrived in Kashmir.

Officials said the batch departed in a convoy of 191 vehicles, with 1,745 pilgrims heading towards the Baltal base camp in 74 vehicles, while 3,456 pilgrims left for the Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp in 117 vehicles.

The batch comprised 3,970 men, 1,124 women, five children, 92 sadhus, nine sadhvis and one transgender pilgrim.

The Baltal-bound convoy rolled out at 2:42 am, while the Pahalgam-bound convoy departed at 3:17 am under the escort of security forces and traffic police.

Total number of pilgrims who have left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for the Kashmir Valley during this year’s pilgrimage has reached 1,04,488, officials said.

Meanwhile, Mahant Deependra Giri, custodian of the Chhari Mubarak Swami Amarnath Ji, on Thursday announced the schedule for the traditional annual pilgrimage of the holy mace to the cave shrine.

In a statement, Giri said that as per age-old tradition, the rituals of Bhoomi Pujan, Navgrah Pujan and Dhwajarohan, marking the ceremonial commencement of the Chhari Mubarak pilgrimage, will be performed at Pahalgam on July 29, coinciding with Ashad Purnima (Vyas Purnima).

He said the holy mace will be taken to the Shankaracharya Temple on August 12 and Sharika Bhawani Temple on August 13, followed by Chhari Sthapana at Shri Amareshwar Temple, Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar on August 15.

The traditional Chhari Pujan will be held at Dashnami Akhara on August 17 on the occasion of Nag Panchami. The main pilgrimage of the holy mace will commence on August 22, reaching the holy cave shrine on August 28 (Shravan Purnima) for the final rituals and darshan.

As per the schedule, the Chhari Mubarak will halt overnight at Pahalgam on August 22 and 23, Chandanwari on August 24, Sheshnag on August 25, and Panchtarni on August 26 and 27 before reaching the cave shrine.

Giri said a communication has been sent to the Union Territory administration seeking all necessary arrangements to ensure the smooth, secure and traditional conduct of the Chhari Mubarak procession throughout its journey.

47 pilgrims escape unhurt as moving bus catches fire

Jammu Tawi, Jul 16: Forty-seven Amarnath Yatra pilgrims had a narrow escape after the bus they were travelling in caught fire on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Karool in Ramban district on Thursday.

Officials said that the sleeper bus (RJ27PC-9921), carrying pilgrims from Rajasthan, was on its way from Srinagar to Jammu when it caught fire near Karool on the highway.

Soon after the incident, teams of Police, CRPF, Army, SDRF, Fire and Emergency Services, and volunteers rushed to the spot and launched a rescue and firefighting operation.

All 47 occupants, including the driver and conductor, were evacuated safely before the flames engulfed the vehicle.

No casualty or injury was reported in the incident, officials said, adding that traffic on the highway was briefly affected during the firefighting operation but was restored after the blaze was brought under control.

The exact cause of the fire is being investigated, officials added.