Shah speaks to LG, takes update
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 9: As Amarnath Ji yatra remained suspended for last three days due to incessant rains and thousands of yatris are stranded in J&K, Union Home Minister, Amit Shah today spoke to Lt Governor, Manoj Sinha who is also Chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) and took update of Amarnath pilgrims and arrangements made for them.
Amit Shah also hailed the National Defence Response Force (NDRF) for providing a safe Amarnath Yatra to every pilgrim.
Shah tweeted, “The NDRF and the SDRF have always stood tall in service to the nation and humanity despite all odds. Their role has been crucial in fulfilling our goal of providing a safer Amarnath Yatra to every pilgrim.”
He shared a photograph of an SDRF Jawan carrying a lady yatri on his back for three kms through the unforgiving terrain of the Himalayas on her way back from the holy shrine. “I applaud them for being the beacon of safety for the citizens,” Shah tweeted.
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Meanwhile, the Amarnath Ji yatra from Jammu to twin base camps of Nunwan Pahalgam and Baltal remained suspended for second consecutive day today due to washing away of National Highway near Ramban. However, the yatra from Nunwan base camp and other transit camps on Pahalgam axis in Kashmir valley which remained suspended for two days was resumed this morning after improvement in weather condition, officials said.
They said 6491 pilgrims who were stranded at Panchtarni performed darshan at holy cave by this evening. They included 4700 male, 1456 female, 213 children, 116 Sadhus and six Sad vis.
The weather was partly cloudy but remained dry in holy cave area during the day. With this 93,929 pilgrims have performed darshan at holy cave during last nine days since the 62 days pilgrimage to 3880 metre holy cave started on July 1.
Officials said that yatra from Jammu to twin base camps will also remain suspended tomorrow in view of bad condition of National Highway. Due to the suspension of yatra many pilgrims who were stranded here for last some days decided to return to their respective home States.
Tarun Goel, a pilgrim from Maharashtra who had reached here four days back along with a group of 10 pilgrims, said that his entire group had to perform darshan at holy cave today as per his token but due to bad weather conditions they decided to return to their home State as the weather has totally turned hostile and the chances of restoration of Highway in one or two days is not possible, he added.
Similar were the views of Ramnik Yadav, a pilgrim from Banaras, UP, who had come for pilgrimage of Amarnath Ji for first time along with his other family members. “We are camping here for last three days and the chances of opening of Highway for next two days are remote so we can’t afford to stay here for more days’’, he said. “We will return to our home State tomorrow morning as we are now running short of money as well’’, he added.
As per officials, over 6000 pilgrims are camping at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas. The influx of yatris from other parts of country continued today as well. However, some yatri buses were asked to take shelter in Samba and Kathua districts by the administration to avoid rush at Jammu.
Reports reaching here said that yatris from Baltal axis were not allowed for darshan to holy cave while those stranded at Panchtarni due to bad weather for last two days were allowed to take Baltal track for their return journey.
Reports said that over 6000 pilgrims are camping at Panchtarni for the night while over 16,000 are camping at Baltal. Moreover 584 pilgrims reported at Nunwan Base camp today, while 6916 pilgrims left Chandanwari for Sheshnag. Besides, 1129 pilgrims who were staying at Sheshnag after performing darshan at holy cave returned to Chandanwari.
Reports said 3983 pilgrims left Sheshnag for Panchtarni, the last transit camp towards holy cave on Pahalgam axis while 5970 pilgrims left Panchtarni for holy cave. The chopper services also resumed today to ferry the pilgrims to and fro.
Report said that over 6000 pilgrims are stranded at Chanderkote Yatri Niwas in Ramban district as the Highway stands closed for vehicular traffic.
Meanwhile, Army has given shelter to over 700 Amarnath pilgrims in its camp at Qazigund in Anantnag district of South Kashmir today who were stranded due to heavy rainfall in Valley for the last three days. These pilgrims expressed gratitude to Army for taking good care of them.
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