Yatra resumes from Banihal

Avtar Bhat

JAMMU, July 19: As the yatra was suspended from Banihal to Base camps of Nunwan-Pahalgam and Baltal last night due to killings and violence in Qazigund area yesterday, a very less number of pilgrims left for holy cave from two base camps for darshan today. However, the suspended yatra was resumed late tonight as the authorities of two regions took a formal decision in this regard after discussing the prevailing law and order situation in the Valley.
SSP Ramban, Randeep Kumar told Excelsior that the yatra which was suspended yesterday evening will be resumed during the midnight and all the stranded yatri vehicles on National Highway will be allowed to proceed for two base camps.
According to an official spokesman, only 885 pilgrims left from Baltal to holy cave this morning while no yatri reached the base camp from Jammu today due to sudden suspension of yatra at Banihal in Ramban district of Jammu region last night.
All the pilgrims and other vehicles on way to Kashmir valley were not allowed to proceed towards Srinagar due to unrest at Qazigund in South Kashmir district of Kulgam following the killing of three people yesterday.
The spokesman said 76 pilgrims left from Nunwan Pahalgam track for holy cave this morning and out of them 53 left via chopper and rest by foot. He said 181 pilgrims left for holy cave from Chandanwari.
He said 286 pilgrims are stranded at Nunwan, Pahalgam base camp since yesterday as no yatri was allowed to move towards Jammu due to unrest at Qazigund yesterday.
He said on 18th day of yatra 3238 pilgrims performed darshan at holy cave today despite the inclement weather and rains that lashed the yatra tracks and holy cave during the day. With this, the total number of pilgrims performing darshan at cave shrine since the 48 day long yatra started on July 2 has touched 1,82,768.
He said the weather is cloudy in cave shrine area.
Spokesman said 220 pilgrims reported at Nunwan base camp after darshan from holy cave today. Out of them, 95 came via track while 125 returned via chopper.
He said no yatri was allowed to leave from Baltal to Jammu last night.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 2591 pilgrims left from Jammu Yatri Niwas for holy cave this afternoon in a cavalcade of 65 vehicles under tight security measures.
The yatris had reached near Banihal till last reports came in.

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