No pilgrimage from Baltal to Nunwan due to rain
Avtar Bhat
JAMMU, July 5: Shri Amarnathji yatra remained suspended from both Baltal and Nunwan base camps to holy cave due to heavy rainfall in the yatra area this morning and slippery tracks. However, the yatris camping at Sheshnag and Panchtarni camps were allowed to leave for darshan after rain stopped in the afternoon.
According to an official spokesman, 5405 pilgrims performed darshan on sixth day of yatra of naturally formed Ice Lingam in cave shrine today. With this, total 75,400 yatris have performed darshan at holy cave in last six days.
The spokesman said though yatra from Nunwan and Baltal remained suspended but the chopper service for carrying pilgrims continued throughout the day. However, the yatra from both the base camps will be resumed tomorrow provided the weather improves, spokesman added.
To avoid the huge rush at Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam district of Anantnag, the Pahalgam-Chandanwari track bound yatris from Jammu were stopped at Chanderkot, Ramban today and they were taken to Yatri Niwas Chanderkot for night halt by the district administration. However, the yatris proceeding to Baltal base camp were allowed to leave.
The authorities said that yatra will remain suspended from Jammu to twin base camps of Nunwan-Pahalgam and Baltal tomorrow.
Divisional Commissioner, Jammu Ramesh Kumar in a tweet said, “The yatra convoy will not move tomorrow from Jammu towards holy cave due to bad weather conditions. All the yatris are advised to plan accordingly and stay at their accommodations”.
A seventh batch of 6,351 pilgrims left from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for twin base camps of Baltal in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir and Nunwan, Pahalgam in Anantnag district of South Kashmir early this morning in a cavalcade of 239 vehicles under tight security measures.
Among them, 4323 pilgrims preferred traditional Pahalgam -Chandanwari track while 2028 opted for shortest Baltal route. The pilgrims who preferred the Chandanwari track were stopped at Chanderkot, Ramban to avert the heavy rush due to suspension of yatra at Nunwan after heavy rains lashed Kashmir Valley today.
Meanwhile, the unabated rush of pilgrims is continuing as thousands of yatris from different parts of country reach Jammu daily to leave for darshan of Bhole Baba from here. As per reports, about 10, 000 pilgrims are camping in the various community centres and Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas here.
Reports said 2800 pilgrims crossed the gateway of Lakhanpur by road from different parts of country by this evening while hundreds of pilgrims reached Jammu through train services and by air today. Reports said heavy rush of yatris is seen in front of registration counters in Jammu who are waiting in long queues from early in the morning.
The Government has made elaborate security and boarding and lodging arrangements for the pilgrims right from Lakhanpur to holy cave. The heavy rush of Shri Amarnath bound Sadhus is also seen at Ram Mandir Purani Mandi, Geeta Bhawan and other temples. The Geeta Bhawan and Ram Mandir management bodies have arranged free Langar facilities for Sadhus besides the arrangements for their registration and medical check up etc.
Meanwhile, one Amarnath pilgrim was injured while nine others had a narrow escape after a vehicle (tempo traveller) which was on way from Srinagar to Jammu met with an accident on Jammu-Srinagar National Highway near Trishul Morh Ramban.
The injured yatri has been identified as Vipan Solanki of Gujarat. He was shifted to district Hospital Ramban by locals and police. His condition is stated to be out of danger.
To review the yatra arrangements, Chief Secretary, Dr Arun Kumar Mehta today chaired a meeting of officers from civil and Police administration for first hand appraisal from them for the smooth conduct of the ongoing Amarnath Yatra.
Principal Secretary Health and Medical Education Department, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Inspector General of Police Kashmir, Secretary Department of Disaster Management, Relief, Rehabilitation and Reconstruction, Principal Government Medical College Srinagar, Deputy Commissioners and Senior Superintendents of Police, Ganderbal /Anantnag, Director Health Services Kashmir and other concerned officials attended the meeting.
While enquiring about the arrangements being put in place for pilgrims after the Yatra was suspended on both the routes due to inclement weather, Dr Mehta impressed upon the concerned officers that all the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) must be followed.
On the occasion, he enquired about the arrangements and other back up plans during the inclement weather conditions.
He directed all the concerned to avoid unnecessary chaos and review the holding capacities of yatris at the lodgements along the twin Amarnath cave routes.
On the occasion, the Chief Secretary also instructed the officers to ensure cleanliness of tracks so that pilgrims would not face any inconvenience during their pilgrimage.
He also directed the Health department to ensure round the clock health care facilities along both the tracks to tackle high altitude related problems being faced by yatris. While following protocols, all necessary arragements to be put in place to immediately shift the yatris facing acute problems.
While discussing the traffic management along the National Highway and yatra routes of Baltal and Pahalgam, Dr Mehta directed the Traffic Police to facilitate movements of perishable items, tourists and people alike.
He also maintained that the Traffic advisory issued by the Traffic Department must be adhered to so that people do not face any inconvenience.
While complimenting the civil and police administration for the smooth conduct of Amarnath Yatra so far, the Chief Secretary assured that all the necessary support would be extended to them for the successful conduct of Amarnath yatra.
Meanwhile, in addition to online facility of providing Prashad with Silver Coins, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), in its new initiative, has introduced offline facility for making Prashad/ Silver Coins available to the devotees, paying obeisance at Lord Shiva’s holy cave shrine, in Shri Amarnathji yatra which commenced on June 30 and will culminate on August 11 on day of Shravan Purnima coinciding Raksha Bandhan.
Under this initiative, the devotees can visit Souvenir Counter setup by the SASB at holy cave and buy silver coins of 5 gram and 10 gram weight at the rate of Rs. 700/- and Rs.1300/- respectively. The devotees can also have Prashad with 5 gram Silver Coin @ Rs.1000/-, Prashad with 10 gram Silver Coin @ Rs.2000/- and Prashad without Coin @ Rs. 501/- from the Counters setup at Domel Access Control Gate (Baltal) and Chandanwari Access Control Gate, Pahalgam.
This will fulfil the long pending desire of the devotees, expressed from time to time. SASB in future will also continue to take such initiatives to provide more and more facilities to the pilgrims coming from all over the country as well as abroad for the holy yatra.
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