JAMMU : The Amarnath yatra was suspended on Monday as a precautionary measure following a strike called by separatist in Kashmir valley to mark the third death anniversary of former Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani, officials said.
The annual pilgrimage to the 3,880 meter high holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas will resume Tuesday, they said.
The officials said the Amarnath-bound convoy, which usually leaves the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here for Kashmir in the early hours, was not allowed to head for the cave shrine to avoid any untoward incident in view of law and order situation in the valley.
Wani, once a poster boy of militancy in the valley, was killed in an encounter with security forces on July 8, 2016, in Kokernag area of south Kashmir’s Anantnag district.
“The yatra is suspended from Jammu for the day and will resume Tuesday,” a police official said.
So far, a total of 36,309 pilgrims have left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp since the commencement of the yatra from Jammu on June 30, a day ahead of the official start of the 46-day pilgrimage from the twin tracks — traditional 36-km Pahalgam in Anantnag district and 14-km shorter Baltal route in Ganderbal district.
Till Sunday night, 95,923 yatris had offered prayers at the cave shrine, housing the naturally formed ice-shivlingam, since the beginning of the yatra, which is scheduled to end on August 15 coinciding with the Raksha Bandhan festival.
Meanwhile, from, Srinagar, fresh batches of yatris on Monday left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps in the Kashmir valley for undertaking annual pilgrimage to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
A yatra official said yatra from Jammu to different base camps in Kashmir valley will be resumed on Tuesday.
He said about 95,923 pilgrims, including women and sadhus, from different parts of the country have paid obeisance at the holy cave since the commencement of the pilgrimage from July 1st till Sunday evening.
Since early this morning about 1500 yatris, who had night halt at different halting stations had darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam and more yatris are on way to holy cave.
He said a fresh batch of pilgrims, including women, children and sadhus left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional yatra track. Meanwhile, the pilgrims who had night halt at different stations, including Chandanwari, left for next stations early Monday morning.
He said fresh batch of pilgrims also left Baltal base camp for the holy cave early this morning. The pilgrims, including women, children and sadhus will reach the holy cave after covering the distance on foot, he said. Helicopter service is also operating normally from both sides.
Meanwhile, majority of the pilgrims who had darshan at the cave shrine left for their homes. However, some pilgrims are taking time to visit Dal Lake and other tourist places, including Gulmarg, Sonamarg and Pahalgam before leaving for home.
He said majority pilgrims, even those who are undertaking the pilgrimage via Pahalgam are returning through Baltal route.
(agencies)
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