Amarnath Yatra crosses 2 lakh mark

Srinagar, July 8

The number of pilgrims who paid obeisance to Lord Shiva at Amarnath cave shrine in South Kashmir crossed the two lakh mark on Monday.

“As many as 24,879 pilgrims performed the yatra on Monday and had darshan of Baba Bholenath on the seventh day of the annual yatra,” the officials said.

They said the number of pilgrims who have been to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine has now reached 2,07,016. 2,000 security forces and 289 children also performed the pilgrimage.

As per the officials, there have been two deaths — a sevadar from Haryana and a pilgrim from Jharkhand. Both the deceased suffered cardiac arrest along the Baltal route in June. The 52-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 19.