Srinagar- 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.
The officials said 16,826 male pilgrims, 5,345 female pilgrims, 398 Sadhus and one Sadhvi were among those who paid obeisance at the cave shrine.
Over 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 — in this year’s yatra. Both the deceased suffered cardiac arrest along the Baltal route in June.
This year, the yatra started on June 29 and will end on August 19, lasting 52 days.
The devotees of Lord Shiva undertake the arduous annual pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine located in the Kashmir Himalayas in July-August. Conducted by the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, the Amarnath yatra has two routes through Pahalgam and via Baltal. Baltal serves as the camping ground for pilgrims in the Ganderbal district of Jammu and Kashmir.
This year, the Yatra is taking place in the shadow of recent terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir.
‘Pony Ambulance’ Service
The Jammu and Kashmir administration has introduced a ‘pony ambulance’ service to provide critical healthcare support to the Amarnath Yatra pilgrims.
An official spokesperson said the pony ambulances — horse-mounted emergency response system equipped with medical kits and oxygen cylinders — will accompany pilgrims along both the Baltal and Pahalgam axis.
He added that trained personnel handle the pony ambulances, which swiftly respond to any health issues faced by yatris during the yatra.
The service has been launched by the Health Services Department in Kashmir and conceived by department director Mushtaq Ahmad Rathar.
According to the spokesperson, the pilgrims have widely appreciated the initiative.
“We are committed to ensuring the well-being of Amarnath yatris. The Pony Ambulance service has boosted pilgrims’ confidence and comfort during the yatra,” Syed Abid Rashid Shah, secretary, Health and Medical Education said.
The service has set a new standard for emergency response in remote areas, showcasing Kashmir’s healthcare innovation, the spokesperson said.
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