news details |
|
|
| After Amarnath, Machail Yatra in Kishtwar grounded following security alert | | | Asif Iqbal Naik
Early Times Report
jammu, Aug 3: In a new twist to ongoing chaos and confusion aimed prevailing suspension of Amarnath Yatra yesterday following alert by Jammu and Kashmir Home department, the Government of Jammu and Kashmir surprisingly today grounded Machail Matta Yatra underway in Padder area of Kishtwar District.
As per the details available with Early Times, the decision to ground Machail Yatra which is 3rd in line after Matta Vashino Devi and Amarnath Yatra was taken during high level security meeting which according to the sources lasted till 1 AM mid night.
Confirming to Early Times about suspension of Machail Yatra, Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar Angrez Singh Rana said that the Yatra was suspended following instructions at highest level in view of prevailing alert in the state, however he did not elaborate further in this regard.
As soon as the decision to suspend Machail Yatra was conveyed to the hundreds of pilgrims who had arrived Kishtwar in the evening and early morning today, there was anger and resentment among them.
The Yatries informed the "Early Times" that they were not allowed by the army to move beyond Wasser area of Kishtwar added that they were informed that the Yatra has been suspended following the decision taken by the government.
They said that were surprised to hear that the Yatra has been suspended despite the fact that same was moving without any hurdle. They chopper service from Gulabgarh to Machail has also been suspended and the service provider has been conveyed by the police about the decision with regard to grounding of chopper service.
However the administration took swift response to evacuate all the pilgrims wether enroute to Machail Temple or at the temple Bhawan.
Several children along with women were the part of the Yatra which was stopped today morning.
"We just want to know why we are not being allowed to move forward-- we had air tickets as well-- it will take only half hour to us to offer Darshan" said rejected looking pilgrims.
"Why don't they stop us at Nagrota or Udhampur-- why they allowed us to reach Kishtwar-- this should not have happened" said another pilgrim.
Meanwhile the Langer Committee at Shalimar in the outskirts of Kishtwar town served food to the Yatries who had returned to Kishtwar after paying visit and also to those who were not allowed to move forward.
Later the dejected pilgrims returned with heavy heart with the hope that Yatra will resume sometime later as same was earlier schedule to close on September 5th. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
