Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 14: With heavy rush of Amarnath yatris at Baltal where over 22,000 pilgrims are camping at present, the authorities today suspended the yatra from Jammu to holy cave and no pilgrim was allowed to leave for Baltal base camp while the yatra via traditional Pahalgam track was already suspended due to unrest in the Valley.
The yatris who managed to leave for Srinagar from here in the private vehicles were stopped at Udhampur, Kud and Ramban. According to sources, over 2000 pilgrims were stranded at various places on National Highway from Udhampur to Banihal.
Deputy Commissioner Jammu Simranjeet Singh told Excelsior that the yatra was suspended today again in view of heavy rush at Baltal as the base camp is full to its capacity and no more pilgrims could be accommodated there.
He said the decision was taken to avoid any inconvenience to pilgrims due to heavy rush at Baltal.
However, sources said that the yatra was suspended as authorities apprehended trouble in Valley after Friday prayers where situation is already tense after the killing of dreaded Hizbul militant Burhan Wani on July 8.
Vishal Sharma, a pilgrim, who heads a group of 200 yatris from Mumbai and whose vehicles were not allowed to proceed ahead of Udhampur said over 5000 pilgrims are stranded at different places on NH and they were taken to different langars and community halls for night halt.
Meanwhile, 10,116 pilgrims paid obeisance at holy cave of Swami Amarnath in deep Himalayas today. With this the total number of pilgrims paying obeisance at cave shrine so far since the 48 day long yatra started on July 2 has touched 1,55,320, an official spokesman said.
He said over 22,000 pilgrims are camping at Baltal base camp. They included 13,309 yatris who reached there early this morning from Jammu and other parts of Kashmir and rest were those who had reached base camp after performing darshan at holy cave till this evening.
He said 8600 pilgrims left Baltal for holy cave today and some of them had performed darshan by the evening while others were on their way to holy cave.
The yatris who are stranded at Nunwan Pahalgam for last five days today staged a protest and blocked road demanding that they be carried to Jammu immediately. These yatris shouted slogans against the authorities and demanded that immediate steps be taken for arranging the transport to shift them to Jammu. Later, authorities decided to evacuate these yatris to Jammu under tight security arrangements tonight.
It may be recalled about 650 pilgrims were stranded at Pahalgam base camp for last five days as authorities failed to make arrangements of their transportation to Jammu generating a lot of resentment among pilgrims.
The spokesman said 849 pilgrims are camping at Nunwan -Pahalgam base camp. He said 45 pilgrims left from Nunwan to holy cave early this morning while 99 returned after performing darshan at cave shrine via traditional Pahalgam track today.
The spokesman said as yatris and authorities preferred Baltal track in view of present unrest in Valley, the Shrine Board has decided to increase the quota of daily pilgrims from Baltal track by one thousand and instead of 7500 pilgrims now 8500 pilgrims will be allowed to proceed via this route daily to tackle the heavy rush of pilgrims.
Meanwhile, one more pilgrim died at SKIMS Srinagar today where he was admitted few days back after complaining chest pain. He was identified as Govind Prasad, S/ol Ram Dayal of Gangapur, Rajasthan. With this the total number of pilgrims who died during ongoing yatra touched eleven including two pilgrims who died in road mishap.
Spokesman said that yatra was progressing smoothly from shortest Baltal track and weather was also pleasant.
Official sources said that vehicles carrying Amarnath pilgrims which left Jammu yesterday in the afternoon have reached Baltal base camp early this morning safely under tight security arrangements. No pilgrim was taken to Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for security reasons as vehicles had to pass Anantnag.
Sources said that majority people, including truckers carrying essentials for Kashmir valley also, now prefer to travel during the night to avoid any untoward incident during the day.
Vehicles from Kashmir valley are also being allowed to travel to Jammu during the night, they said, adding that the process will continue till the situation improves.
As per reports thousands of yatris are stranded in Jammu as the yatra to holy cave was suspended today forcing the stranded pilgrims at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas to hold protest against the authorities.
Besides the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas, thousands of yatris are camping in Sarswati Dham, Kalika, Dham, Vaishno Dham, Aggarwal Sabha, Geeta Bhawan, Aasa Ram Bapu Ashram and other community halls in Jammu, Cheechi Mata temple Samba, Chan Arorian Baba Barfani Langer, Kathua and other places.
Meanwhile, an Amarnath Yatri today died of heart attack at Railway Station Jammu.
According to a police spokesman, an Amarnath Yatri namely Tarun Solanki (54) son of Hari Bhai, resident of Rajkot (Gujarat), today reached Railway Station Jammu after paying obeisance at Shri Amarnath Shrine on July 11.
He was accompanied by his friends. As he boarded the train this morning for his return journey, he suffered heart attack and within few minutes he collapsed. The body of the deceased was shifted to mortuary room of Government Medical College and Hospital, Jammu for post mortem.
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