SRINAGAR : The pilgrimage to the holy Amarnth cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas was going on smoothly as fresh batches of pilgrims, including women and sadhus, left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps for the shrine early this morning.
Governor N N Vohra, who is also chairman of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) reviewed the progress of the pilgrimage during the first seven days of the Shravan month which started on August 1.
Recent militant attack on BSF convoy at Udhampur and reports that two more militants travelled in an oil tanker on the highway had no impact on the pilgrimage which is going on smoothly. Majority of yatris still prefer to travel from Jammu to base camps in Kashmir on their own without availing any security cover.
A Yatra Control Room (YCR) official told UNI that 2,548 pilgrims paid obeisance at the yesterday at the cave shrine at 13,500 feet. With this, a total of 3,36,055 yatris had paid obeisance since the commencement of the 59-day-long annual yatra from July 2 which will conclude on August 29 on Rakshabandan.
He said during the first week of Shravan month 20771 yatris offered pujan at the cave shrine since August 1.
Weather is pleasant and tracks from both sides are good, the official said, adding the pilgrimage was going on smoothly.
‘Bam Bam Bolay’ and ‘Har Har Mahadev’ rented in the air when fresh batch of pilgrims, including women, sadhus and children, left Baltal base camp in the Ganderbal district for the holy cave shrine early this morning.
He said the pilgrims are expected to cover the 16-km-long distance on foot before paying obeisance at the cave shrine.
The official said pilgrims, who had night halt near the cave shrine after having darshan, have also started their return journey to Baltal base camp. The exact number of pilgrims undertaking the yatra from this shortest route will be known later in the day as more yatris are arriving from Sumbal and Manasbal transit camps, he said.
Similarly, fresh batches of pilgrims also left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on the traditional route.
However, majority of the pilgrims will start their foot journey towards the next halting station after reaching Chandanwari.
Similarly pilgrims, who had night halt at Chandanwari and other halting stations have also started their journey towards the cave shrine early this morning.
An official spokesman said here that Mr Vohra reviewed the yatra at a meeting held at the Raj Bhavan with Chief Executive Officer of SASB P K Tripathi and Additional CEO Jitendra Kumar Singh. The CEO informed the Governor that in the first week of Shravan month, more than 20,771 pilgrims paid obeisance at the Holy Cave.
The Governor reiterated directions for continuous review of cleanliness and sanitation, adequacy of essential supplies, health services etc. and stressed 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.
Mr Vohra directed the CEO and the Additional CEO to undertake an early visit to the Yatra area, accompanied by senior officers of SASB, Pahalgam Development Authority (PDA) and other concerned organisations, to undertake a critical assessment of the adequacy of facilities and arrangements which have been put in place for the facilitation of the Yatris.
He also asked the CEO to finalise the implementation of action plan of all repair works which may be required to be carried out in the post-yatra period, keeping in view the limited working period available after the end of yatra on August 29. (AGENCIES)
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