Pahalgam track to be opened on July 2

Avtar Bhat

JAMMU, June 30: The traditional Pahalgam Chandanwari route to holy cave of Swami Amarnath Ji will be thrown open for pilgrims on July 2.
This was decided at a high level meeting held under the chairmanship of Governor, N N Vohra, who is also chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) at Raj Bhawan, Srinagar today.
The meeting was attended by Director General of Police K. Rajendra,  CEO of Shrine Board, R.K. Gupta,  Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Shailendra Kumar, IGP Kashmir, A. G. Mir and Additional CEO, Shrine Board, Preet Pal Singh.
Earlier the Board after reviewing the ground position of the track on June 26 had deferred the yatra from Pahalgam track up to June 30 due to snowy track. The Board only permitted the yatra to holy cave from shortest Baltal track.
However after reviewing the ground position at a high level meeting today, the Board decided to open the Pahalgam track for pilgrimage from July 2. It may be recalled that various Hindu organizations including VHP and Shiv Sena had opposed the decision of Board to defer the yatra from traditional track saying that Board should have cleaned the track much in advance before flagging off of the first batch of yatra on June 27 from Jammu.
During today’s meeting the Governor, was briefed by the CEO, Mr Gupta about the yatra arrangements along the Pahalgam route, track condition from Sheshnag to Panjtarni, and status of snow clearance at the Sheshnag Camp. In view of the snow melting levels in the past four days, it was decided to open the Pahalgam route for the pilgrims from July 2, an official spokesman of the Board said.
He said for the convenience of pilgrims, it was decided that all Yatris who have already obtained registration to travel on the Pahalgam route till   July 5, can, if they wish, have the option of traveling via Baltal route on the date for which they possess valid registration. Thereafter, from July 6 onwards, the Yatris will be allowed to embark on their pilgrimages only as per the specific date and route for which they possess valid Yatra Permits.
During the meeting, Mr Vohra gave instructions to the CEO and Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, to personally monitor and ensure that all required arrangements are in place for the yatra to commence from the Pahalgam route from July 2 morning.
The CEO was asked to forthwith commence the facility of on-spot registration of pilgrims who wish to travel by the Pahalgam route. Such registration will be open for the pilgrims to embark on their yatra via the Pahalgam route only with effect from July 6 morning. This registration would be done at the registration counters which have already been set-up by the Shrine Board at Jammu and Srinagar. It may be recalled that the facility for on-spot registration via the Baltal route has already been opened with effect from June, 28.
The spokesman said the Shrine Board has provided the facility of on-spot registration through registration counters in Jammu at Vaishnavi Dham, Saraswati Dham, Jammu-Haat and Gita Bhawan and in Srinagar at TRC Nowgam. At Gita Bhawan, Jammu, only Sadhus are being registered, he added.
He said till date, 2141 pilgrims and Sadhus have registered themselves at these counters to travel to holy cave via the Baltal route.
Meanwhile, today on the 3rd day of the yatra 14,635 pilgrims paid obeisance at the holy cave, while on 28th and 29th June 8899 and 11182 Yatris respectively had paid their obeisance. Till date, a total of 34,635 Yatris have performed the darshan of the Ice Lingam at the holy cave.
The spokesman said 11,988 pilgrims left from Baltal to holy cave. They included 11,001 by foot and 987 by chopper.
The spokesman said despite heavy snowfall during the past winters and consequent implications, the number of Yatris paying obeisance at holy cave has been steadily increasing with the commencement of yatra on June 28 from Baltal route.
Two more yatris died due to cardiac arrest today near holy cave. With this the death too in ongoing pilgrimage has mounted to six. They were identified as Harminder Kumar Makhan, 69, S/o Lt. Shiv Ram Lal Makhan of Dwarika, New Delhi and Rattan Gulati 57, S/o Roshan Lal Gulati of Yumnanagar, Haryana.
While Makhan died near lower camp at holy cave after performing darshan, Gulati died while he was on way to cave shrine at Dumel.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 1666 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar Jammu Yatri Niwas for holy cave today. They included 1146 male, 288 female, 40 children and 192 Sadhus. They left in a cavalcade of 48 vehicles. They had reached near Manigam camp in Ganderbal district till last reports came in.

Follow our WhatsApp channel