SRINAGAR : Pilgrimage was going on smoothly to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, where 3.12 lakh yatris have paid obeisance since the commencement of the 59-day-long annual yatra from July 2.
However, due to closure of the road to Baltal following fresh landslides, no fresh yatri could arrive at the base this morning from Sumbal and Manigam transit camps. A Yatra Control Room (YCR) official told UNI that yatra from Nunwan Pahalgam and Baltal was going on smoothly and the weather was pleasant.
He said about 600 pilgrims, including women, children and sadhus, who had arrived at Baltal yesterday, left for the holy shrine early this morning after night halt there.
The pilgrims are scheduled to reach the cave shrine after covering the 16-km-long foot distance. Similarly yatris, who had night halt at a camp near cave, have also started return journey this morning.
However, due to closure of the Sonmarg-Baltal road following fresh landslides and soil erosion, no yatra arrived from transit camps.
However, authorities have already started operation to clear the landslides. He said about 1,100 pilgrims left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for the holy Shrine early this morning despite slight rain during the night.
The pilgrims, including women, sadhus and children, will have night halt at Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional route.
The official said pilgrims, who had night halt at different halting stations also left for the holy cave shrine early this morning.
He said yesterday, 4,695 Yatris paid obeisance at the Holy Cave. With this a total of 3,11,990 Yatris have paid obeisance at the Holy Cave.
Majority of pilgrims had since returned to their homes after the darshan of the Ice-Shivlingam.
Governor N N Vohra, who is also chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), reviewed yatra progress and preparations for the upcoming month of “Shravan”.
An official spokesperson said Mr Vohra chaired a meeting at the Raj Bhavan to review the progress of the Yatra during the first 29 days of the pilgrimage and additional arrangements, if any, which may be required for ensuring a continuing smooth pilgrimage during Shravan which commences from today.
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of SASB P K Tripathi and Additional CEO Jitendra Kumar Singh informed the Governor that all the arrangements are in place to facilitate the Yatris till it concludes on August 29.
The Governor stressed the need for a daily review of cleanliness and sanitation, adequacy of essential supplies and health services and reiterated the crucial importance of providing timely medical assistance to any pilgrim or service provider who falls ill or meets with an accident in the Yatra area.
The Governor also discussed the agenda of the SASB meeting which is scheduled to take place today.
The Board will, ineralia, discuss the arrangements made for bringing about improvements in the logistical and other arrangements for the pilgrimage. (AGENCIES)
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