Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 13: The Amarnath yatra, which remained suspended from Baltal and Nunwan -Pahalgam tracks yesterday, resumed early this morning and over 18,350 pilgrims paid obeisance up to this evening in the holy cave of Lord Shiva. However, the yatra from Jammu to cave shrine remained suspended for second day today due to closure of National Highway. Over 70 vehicles carrying the pilgrims managed to leave via Mughal road to Kashmir valley this morning, while over 330 vehicles mostly carrying Amarnath yatris returned Jammu via the same road.
According to an official spokesman, the holy Amarnath yatra was resumed early this morning after the clearance of weather which remained suspended yesterday due to the day long down pour and slippery tracks. He said 18, 350 pilgrims managed to pay obeisance to naturally formed Ice Lingam in the cave shrine by this evening. With this, total number of 1,67,451 pilgrims performed darshan at holy cave since the yatra started on July 1 from here.
The spokesman said that 9647 pilgrims left the Nunwan Base camp for holy cave early this morning while 10,412 left from Baltal to holy cave for darshan. The spokesman said 1034 pilgrims left by air to holy cave from Baltal while 4331 returned after performing the darshan.
He said weather on both the tracks to holy cave as well as twin base camps of Nunwan and Pahalgam was cloudy for the entire day today also but the yatra proceeded for darshan smoothly.
The spokesman said the Yatris from halting stations of Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panchtarni were also allowed to proceed for their onwards journey this morning. He said over 5000 pilgrims are camping at Baltal while equal number of yatris were at Nunwan and Pahalgam.
Meanwhile, as per confirmed reports, 72 vehicles which were stranded at different places in Jammu left for holy cave via Mughal road and they had managed to cross Peer Ki Gali by the evening. These vehicles were on their way to base camps of Nunwan and Baltal.
Besides, 330 vehicles mostly carrying Amarnath pilgrims returned to Jammu via Mughal road today due to closure of National Highway.
However, no vehicle carrying pilgrims was allowed to leave for twin base camps from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas today and as per official figures over 7000 pilgrims are stranded at Jammu while hundreds are on National Highway at Ramban and other places.
Reports said that over 60 vehicles carrying Amarnath pilgrims which were stopped at Lakhanpur late last night and these yatris were sitting in open for complete night. In the morning they were shifted to Government Degree College Kathua where they too had to sit in open as the rooms were closed due to holiday today. There was no proper arrangement for yatris and the authorities had even failed to install tents evoking a strong protest from the pilgrims.
Later, at 2 pm the pilgrims were allowed to proceed towards Jammu. The people of Kathua also protested against the authorities failure to make proper arrangements for pilgrims in the town. They said that the yatris could have been easily shifted for night haltage to Nuwnath Ghagwal religious place where 20,000 people can be accommodated but the authorities failed to do so.
However, when contacted Additional DC Jammu, Dr Piyush Singla who is also the Nodal Officer for Amarnath yatra said that all possible steps are taken to provide best possible facilities to pilgrims in case the National Highway remains closed for more days. He said more banquet halls and community centers have been arranged for the shelter of Pilgrims in Jammu.
Follow our WhatsApp channel