SRINAGAR: The Yatra to the Shri Amarnathji Shrine, commenced today, from both Baltal and Pahalgam routes; 4,853 Yatris left from Pahalgam route and 6,435 Yatris from the Baltal route for the Holy Cave and at the close of the day 6,097 pilgrims had paid obeisance.
A Yatri, Shri Bushan Kotwal son of late Shri Kirpa Ram Kotwal, resident of Afgana Mohalla, Jammu, was injured by a shooting stone where he was on his way to the Shrine, between Railpathri and Brarimarg, at 6.20 am today. He was immediately shifted to Baltal Base Camp Hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead. While expressing grief over the unfortunate death of a young man, Governor N.N. Vohra, Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, directed Shri Umang Narula, Chief Executive Officer of the Board, to provide immediate relief of Rs. 3 lakh to the next of the kin of the deceased, without waiting for the processing of the Insurance cover which the Board has provided for all pilgrims and Service Providers against accidental death, arising from man made or natural reasons. He has prayed for peace to the departed soul and conveyed his sympathy to the bereaved family.
