Over 7000 perform darshan
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 22: Though Shri Amarnathji yatra has been suspended from here today due to inclement weather and bad condition of Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and no fresh batch was allowed to proceed from here to the base camps of the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine in South Kashmir Himalayas, 7736 pilgrims performed darshan of Ice Lingam at cave shrine by this evening.
Officials said the yatra to holy cave was suspended from here due to bad weather conditions. But the 4703 pilgrims who were stopped at Chanderkot Ramban yesterday were allowed to leave for twin base camps of Nunwan -Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district. The Highway was reopened for one-way traffic on Thursday night after its closure due to landslides and shooting stones triggered by heavy rain at several places in Ramban district, officials said.
“The yatra has been suspended from Jammu for onward journey to Shri Amarnath Ji in view of the bad condition of Highway and inclement weather conditions, a yatra management officer said.
Earlier, Amarnath yatra was suspended from Jammu due to bad weather on July 10 and resumed on July 11. Authorities may allow yatra from Jammu tomorrow in case highway becomes fully operational and conducive for vehicular traffic, officials said.
Jammu-Srinagar Highway, which was reopened for vehicular traffic, has been shut due to shooting stones at Cafeteria Morh and Mehar in Ramban, they said. The annual 43-day yatra commenced on June 30 from the twin base camps — traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam in South Kashmir’s Anantnag and 14-km shorter Baltal in Central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district. Over 2.30 lakh pilgrims had offered their prayers at the cave shrine, housing the naturally formed Ice-Shivlingam, the officials said.
A total of 1,24,714 pilgrims have left from the Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the Valley since June 29, the day the first batch of pilgrims was flagged off by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha.
A total of 35 people mostly pilgrims have died during the on-going yatra till now excluding 15 pilgrims, who died in the flash floods at the cave shrine on July 8.
According to officials 7736 pilgrims performed darshan of naturally formed Ice Lingam by this evening at the holy cave from Baltal and Chandanwari tracks. With this, total number of pilgrims who performed darshan in the cave shrine since the annual yatra of Baba Amarnath commenced on June 30 this year has touched 2,37,480. It may be recalled that 2,29,744 pilgrims had performed darshan at holy cave till last night.
Officials said the weather was partially cloudy during the day in the yatra area. However, the pilgrimage passed smoothly. Officials said that no yatri from Jammu reached the twin base camps yesterday due to closure of National Highway at some places after shooting stones and landslides. The yatra was yesterday stopped at Chanderkot in Ramban district by district administration. But it was allowed to leave for twin base camps from Chanderkot today.
Officials said as no yatri came from Jammu yesterday and only 638 pilgrims were staying at Nunwan base camp during last night and only 184 pilgrims left from there to holy cave this morning. They said 3045 pilgrims had night stay at Sheshnag Camp while 3757 pilgrims left from Sheshnag to holy cave today.
Officials said 6253 pilgrims were having night stay at Panchtarni while 5505 pilgrims left for holy cave from there during the day.
Officials said 7364 pilgrims were also staying at Baltal base camp during the last night and 2429 left for holy cave from there this morning. Besides, 4142 pilgrims reported at holy cave during the day after performing darshan.
The 43 day long yatra will culminate on Shravan Purnima coinciding with Raksha Bandhan festival falling on August 11 when holy mace of Lord Shiva taken by its sole custodian Mahant Deependra Giri Ji Maharaj and Sadhus from Dashnami Akhara Srinagar will reach the cave shrine.
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