Amarnath Yatra 2017 – Update (01 July 2017)

Amarnath pilgrim from Bengal dies of cardiac arrest in Kashmir
A 72-year-old pilgrim from West Bengal died today due to cardiac arrest en route for the cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir, taking the death toll in the ongoing yatra to three.
A K Mukherji, a resident of Howrah, died due to cardiac arrest at Poshpathri this morning, a police official said.
With this, the death toll in this year’s yatra has risen to three.
A pilgrim from Jammu was killed by a shooting stone at Brarimarg on June 29, while an assistant sub-inspector of the ITBP suffered cardiac arrest at the same place a day before.
Meanwhile, more than 15,000 pilgrims paid obeisance at the naturally-formed Ice Shiva Lingam inside the cave shrine till 9 am today, an official of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) said.
He said the yatra was going on smoothly from both Pahalgam and Baltal routes.
The 40-day yatra will conclude on August 7, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.

4,477 pilgrims leave Jammu for Amarnath Yatra
A fresh batch of 4,477 pilgrims on Saturday left winter capital Jammu to perform the Amarnath Yatra after the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was restored for traffic.
“Comprising 3,298 males, 986 females and 193 sadhus, the yatris left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in 136 vehicles escorted by the security forces”, officials said.
The convoy of vehicles carrying the pilgrims left Jammu at 4.15 a.m. as no vehicle carrying the yatris is being allowed to cross the Jawahar Tunnel on the Jammu-Srinagar highway after 3.30 p.m. due to security reasons.
No pilgrim was allowed to move to the Valley yesterday due to blockade of Jammu-Srinagar highway due to landslides in Ramban district.
The 40-day yatra started on June 29 and will end on August 7 on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival.
So far, over 10,000 pilgrims have had Darshan inside the Cave Shrine situated in Kashmir Himalayas at an altitude of nearly 14,000 ft. in south Kashmir`s Anantnag district.

Landslide en route Vaishnodevi shrine leaves 1 dead; 8 injured
A landslide triggered by rains en route the cave shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi in Trikuta hills of Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir left a woman dead and eight others injured on Friday.
The landslide hit the foot track near Devi Dwar on Himkoti Marg en route the cave shrine at about 12:15 PM, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), Ajeet Sahu told PTI.
The deceased woman has been identified as 32-year-old Soman, a resident of Rewari district of Haryana, the official said, adding the body is being shifted to CHC Katra from Adhkuwari dispensary, where she was declared brought dead.
Sahu said eight persons, including three children, were injured in the incident, adding all of them are being treated.
“The Himkoti track has been closed for pilgrims till clearance of ‘malba’ (debris) and an evaluation to rule out any further slide,” the CEO said.
“Arrangements are being made by the Shrine Board for shifting the body to the victim’s native place. Insurance claim of Rs 3 lakhs is being paid to next of kin of the deceased,” he said.
Over 40,000 to 45,000 pilgrims visit the cave shrine daily.

Amarnath yatra resumes from Pahalgam and Baltal routes
The annual pilgrimage to the 3880-metre-high cave shrine of Amarnath resumed on Friday from Pahalgam and Baltal routes after weather improved.
Rains have rendered the tracks slippery at some places, leading to suspension of the yatra.
The Jammu-Srinagar national highway was also blocked due to landslides.
The annual yatra to the holy shrine of Amarnath began from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal here amidst tight security arrangements on Thursday.
This year, the Amarnath yatra will be eight days shorter than last year’s 48 days and will conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on August 7.
Authorities have heightened security for the 40-day long Yatra because of intelligence inputs that militants might attempt to disrupt it.
This year 2.12 lakh ‘yatris’ have registered for the pilgrimage to the Hindu cave shrine situated nearly 14,000 feet above the sea level.