24,259 pay obeisance; fresh batch of 7754 pilgrims arrives in Kashmir
Srinagar, Jul 13: The annual Amarnath Yatra is all set to cross the three-lakh pilgrim mark on Tuesday.
An official said that the steady surge in pilgrim arrivals has also been seen at the Jammu base camp, where the daily number of yatris embarking on the journey has continued to rise.
The 12th batch of pilgrims departed from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu during the early hours of Monday under multi-layer security arrangements.
According to details, from Base Camp Bhagwati Nagar Jammu, 7,754 pilgrims left for the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam in a convoy of 303 vehicles and arrived in Kashmir.
The Baltal-bound convoy, carrying 2,896 pilgrims in 133 vehicles, left at 2:44 a.m., while the Pahalgam-bound convoy, comprising 4,858 pilgrims in 170 vehicles, departed at 3:28 a.m.
The batch included 5,383 men, 2,071 women, 16 children, 222 sadhus, 58 sadhvis and four transgender pilgrims.
Officials said the sharp rise in pilgrim numbers is the outcome of sustained efforts by the administration and security agencies to provide a safe, smooth and hassle-free pilgrimage. Enhanced accommodation, transport, sanitation, medical facilities and round-the-clock security have significantly improved the overall experience for devotees.
Besides official measures, positive word-of-mouth from pilgrims has emerged as a major driving force behind the growing footfall. Devotees returning after darshan have been widely appreciating the arrangements, encouraging more people from across the country to undertake the pilgrimage.
“I had heard a lot about the improved arrangements this year, but after reaching here, I found everything even better than expected. From security to accommodation and medical facilities, everything is well managed. I will definitely encourage my family and friends to undertake the Amarnath Yatra because the entire experience has been peaceful, safe and spiritually fulfilling,” a devotee from Maharashtra said.
Officials said the increasing number of registered pilgrims leaving Jammu every day, along with the heavy rush at on-the-spot registration counters, shows the growing enthusiasm for the Yatra.
They said that all arrangements are being continuously reviewed to ensure every pilgrim has a safe, comfortable and spiritually enriching experience.
Pilgrims among 18 injured in vehicles collision
Ramban (Jammu Division), Jul 13 : At least 18 people, most of them Amarnath pilgrims, were injured when two buses and a car collided outside a community kitchen on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway on Monday, officials said.
The accident occurred outside the Chanderkote Langar point at around 7.20 am after one of the buses allegedly suffered a brake failure, leading to a chain collision involving one more bus and a car, officials added.
All three vehicles, part of the Kashmir-bound pilgrim convoy, suffered damages in the incident, officials said, adding that rescuers rushed to the spot and shifted the injured to district hospital in Ramban.
Medical Superintendent, District Hospital Ramban, Dr Sudarshan Singh Katoch, said 18 injured people were brought to the facility and were discharged after first aid.
