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| Amarnath Yatra 2018: Heavy rains halt pilgrims at Pahalgam, Sonamarg | | |  Saahil Suhail
Early Times Report
Pahalgam, June 28: The first batch of pilgrims was today disallowed to move towards the Holy Amarnath cave due to heavy downpour.
The authorities said that the decision of halting the pilgrims at Pahalgam and Sonamarg base camps was taken to ensure the safety of pilgrims.
"Due to continuous rainfall the condition of track from Chandwari to onwards is slippery," Executive Engineer, Pahalgam Development Authority, Manzoor Ahmad Beg told Early Times. However, said that the rainfall hasn't damaged the track anywhere. "I am in touch with my engineering staff that is continuously monitoring the track. Till this time track hasn't suffered any kind of damage due to rainfall but the condition of track is slippery," he said. Deputy Commissioner Anantnag, Mohd Younis Malik, who remained present at Nunwan-Pahalgam base camp throughout the day, told media that pilgrims will be allowed to trek towards the holy cave once the weather improves and rainfall stops. 'Amarnath Yatra has been stalled due to heavy rainfall. We are in constant touch with IMD and closely monitoring the weather situation,'' Dr Piyush Singla, Ganderbal Deputy Commissioner said. After an improvement in weather, only 1316 Yatris were able to leave on the Baltal route and 60 on the Pahalgam route, for the Holy Shrine. By the evening of the first day, 1007 pilgrims had paid obeisance at the Holy Cave. Meanwhile A second batch of 3434 pilgrims on Thursday left the Bhagwati Nagar based Yatri Niwas base camp here for the Kashmir valley to perform pilgrimage to Shri Amarnath Cave Shrine in South of Himalayas amid tight security arrangements.
Chanting 'Bam Bam Bhole', the pilgrims left the base camp in a cavalcade of 114 vehicles early morning at around 0400 hours.
An official said that the pilgrims were comprised of 2679 males, 592 females, three children, 158 sadhus and two transgender. He further added that 114 vehicles including 65 buses and 49 light motor vehicles ferried the yatries. |
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