J&K Governor NN Vohra on Thursday, 12 July announced an ex-gratia of Rs three lakh to the kin of eight pilgrims who died in various accidents during the Amarnath yatra.
Five pilgrims were killed after being hit by shooting stones on Baltal holy cave route, while three others died in road accidents. The death toll, due to various reasons, in this year’s pilgrimage has gone up to 21.
- Since 28 June, 60,752 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the Shivling at the holy cave, the spokesperson said
- Over two lakh pilgrims have registered for the yatra this year
- Nearly 40,000 security personnel have been deployed
- The 60-day yatra is scheduled to conclude on 26 August coinciding with the ‘Raksha Bandhan’ festival
Fresh Batch of Pilgrims Leave for Amarnath Yatra
Amid tight security, a fresh batch of 3,451 pilgrims on Friday, 13 July, left a base camp for Kashmir to undertake the annual Amarnath yatra, the police said.
The pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here in two separate convoys for the twin base camps of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district in the early hours, a police official said.
J&K Governor Annnounces Ex-Gratia
Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra on Thursday, 12 July announced an ex-gratia of Rs three lakh each to the next of kin of eight pilgrims who died in various accidents during the Amarnath yatra.
While five pilgrims were killed after being hit by shooting stones on Baltal holy cave route, three others died in road accidents.
The governor, who is also chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), announced the relief during a review meeting held with Chief Executive Officer of the SASB Umang Narula.
Narula informed the Governor that the SASB has given Rs 24 lakh as ex-gratia and spent Rs 5 lakh as transportation cost to take the mortal remains of the pilgrims to their home towns along with one attendant till 11 July.
(With inputs from PTI)
Amarnath Yatra Death Toll Rises to 21
An Amarnath pilgrim from Maharashtra died on Thursday of cardiac arrest on the way to the holy cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, PTI reported quoting a police officer.
Samarjeet Sarja, 52, died at Domail along the Baltal route in the south Kashmir Himalayas this morning, a police official told PTI.
With this, the death toll in this year’s pilgrimage – which began on June 28 – has gone up to 21.
Amarnath Yatra Resumes After Strike on Sunday
After the yatra was suspended for a day due to a strike being called by separatists over Burhan Wani’s death anniversary, the Amarnath Yatra resumed on Monday, 9 July. Two convoys comprising 2998 pilgrims and 3163 pilgrims each, have left from Jammu for Amarnath shrine through Baltal and Pahalgam routes respectively, reported ANI.