Yatra to remain suspended from Jammu today
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 7: As Amarnath Ji Yatra was suspended today from twin Baltal and Nunwan-Pahalgam tracks due to heavy rainfall in many parts of Kashmir and slippery tracks, the authorities have decided to suspend the yatra from Jammu tomorrow in view of the bad weather.
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Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar told Excelsior that yatra will not be allowed to proceed towards twin base camps of Nunwan -Pahalgam and Baltal tomorrow owing to slippery tracks and bad weather conditions.
A SASB spokesman from Kashmir said that the decision regarding resuming the yatra which remained suspended from both the tracks will be subject to improvement in weather conditions. He said in case the weather improves the pilgrims will be allowed to move onwards.
The yatra was suspended along both the Baltal and the Pahalgam routes, he said.
“The yatra has been suspended and no pilgrim is being allowed to move towards the holy cave shrine this morning,” he said.
A landslide hit the Baltal route of the Amarnath Yatra track today following heavy rains in the area, he said.
No loss of life was reported in the incident. The landslide was reported near Rail Patri along the track on the Baltal-holy cave axis, they said, adding that as an impact, the pilgrimage trail was blocked.
No one was hurt as the yatra was suspended this morning following heavy rains in the area, he said.
Most of the areas in the Kashmir valley received rain today.
According to Senior Superintendent of Police (Ramban) Mohita Sharma, the yatra has been halted in the district’s Chanderkote area.
— Excelsior/Rakesh
“The yatra has been suspended due to inclement weather in the Pahalgam belt,” Sharma said.
Heavy showers as well as snow fall near holy cave which started early today, forced the temporary suspension of the pilgrimage, the officials said.
The pilgrims have been stopped at the Baltal and the Nunwan base camps, officials added.
However, 2670 pilgrims which were near the holy cave area performed darshan despite heavy downpour and snowfall today.
With this, total number of pilgrims who paid obeisance at cave shrine during last seven days has touched 86,670.
As per reports the JK Police, CRPF and Army deployed at holy cave assisted the pilgrims in performing darshan as the track was slippery. Reports said besides, heavy rain snow also lashed the holy cave and yatra area during the day.
According to officials in Jammu, while a batch of 4,600 pilgrims on its way to the Pahalgam base camp has been stopped in Chanderkote, another group of 2,410 devotees travelling to the Baltal camp have been allowed to proceed.
The yatra will resume once the weather improves, the officials said.
The 62-day annual pilgrimage to the 3,888-metre-high cave shrine in the South Kashmir Himalayas commenced from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on July 1. The yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 31.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of over 7,000 pilgrims left the base camp here early this morning for the holy cave.
The pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here for the Valley in a convoy of 247 vehicles amid tight security.
The officials said 4,600 pilgrims headed for Pahalgam left in a convoy of 153 vehicles, while another convoy of 94 vehicles carrying 2,410 pilgrims was the first to leave for the Baltal base camp at 3.45 am.
With this, a total of 43,833 pilgrims have left the Jammu base camp for the Valley since June 30, the day the yatra started.
The 62-day annual pilgrimage to the 3,888-metre-high cave shrine in the South Kashmir Himalayas commenced from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on July 1. The yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 31.
The entire yatra is being monitored from integrated command and control centre (ICCC). All departments monitor and send communication to their staff in field from here to cater to the requirements of pilgrims.
However, thousands of pilgrims are daily reaching Jammu from other parts of country for the pilgrimage of Shri Amarnath Ji. The yatris who reached here and those who returned after performing darshan have highly appreciated the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board and J&K administration for the yatra arrangements this year right from gateway of J&K, Lakhanpur to the holy cave.
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