| Fresh batches of pilgrims leave for holy cave, yatra from Jammu remains suspended | | | Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 1: Despite forecast for heavy rain, fresh batches of pilgrims left Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps on Thursday morning for holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
Authorities have suspended yatra from Bhagwari Nagar, Jammu to base camps in Kashmir till August 4 due to forecast for heavy rain. Yatra from the winter capital of the state was suspended yesterday also following closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway due to landslides. However, traffic was restored in the evening and highway was also through for normal traffic today also.
A yatra official said that "Bam Bam Bolay" and "Har Har Mahadev" rented in the air as fresh batch of pilgrims left Baltal base camp in central Kashmir district of Ganderbal this morning. The pilgrims are likely to reach the cave shrine after covering the hilly distance on foot in the afternoon to pay obeisance. Pilgrims, who were staying in the camps near the shrine after darshan, have also started their return journey to base camp, a yatra official said.
He said a fresh batch of pilgrims also left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the first halting station on traditional route, also reachable in vehicles. He said pilgrims, who had night halt at different halting stations on this track, also left for next station early this morning.
Official said since morning, about 2,000 pilgrims, who had night halt at nearby halting stations on both tracks, have paid obeisance so far and more pilgrims are on way to cave shrine.
He said on the 31st day of the ongoing Yatra on Wednesday, 7,917 pilgrims paid obeisance at the Holy Cave. Till date, over 3.40 lakh Yatris had the darshan of the Shivling at the Holy Cave.
The annual yatra will conclude on August 15 when final pujan on the occasion of Shravan Punima (Rakshabandan) will be held after Chhari Mubarak, the holy silver Mace of Shiva will be taken inside the cave shrine.
An official spokesman said that a report was received from India Meteorological Department (IMD) predicting heavy rainfall for next few days all over Jammu and Kashmir, which may cause landslides and shooting stones on highway between Jammu and Srinagar, particularly in the stretch between Ramban and Banihal, which is highly vulnerable to landslides and shooting stone.
The track from Baltal and Pahalgam to holy cave has become slippery and slashy due to recent heavy rainfall and the situation is likely to aggravate in next couple of days in view of weather advisory issued by IMD.
In view of inclement weather conditions, shooting stones and landslides, particularly in Jammu region, Yatra will remain suspended till August 4, 2019.
Yatra from Jammu to Kashmir was suspended yesterday also due to closure of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway. This was the fourth time yatra from winter capital was suspended due to closure of highway and for security reasons since the commencement of the pilgrimage from July 1. |
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