Jammu/Srinagar, July 8: The Amarnath Yatra was suspended for the second consecutive day on Saturday following incessant rains and landslides, leaving thousands of pilgrims stranded in Jammu and at various places en route to the cave shrine.
Union minister Jitendra Singh assured the pilgrims that senior officials are monitoring the situation and requested them not to panic and to follow instructions issued by authorities from time to time.
Heavy rains have lashed large parts of Jammu and Kashmir since Thursday night while several high-altitude areas, including Mahaguns Top and adjoining areas near the Amarnath cave shrine, experienced snowfall. Some places witnessed record rainfall over a 24-hour period for July.
“The Yatra remains suspended from both Pahalgam and Baltal routes for the second day due to the inclement weather,” an official said.
“No fresh batch of yatris was allowed (to leave) from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp this morning in view of the suspension of the Yatra in the Valley and the inclement weather,” a police official told PTI. Divisional Commissioner of Jammu Ramesh Kumar said nearly 15,000 pilgrims were stranded in the Jammu region and directed deputy commissioners of five districts to increase accommodation capacity and activate Emergency Operation Centres (EOCs).
Around 6000 people each have been lodged at ‘yatri niwas’ in Jammu and Ramban districts, 1200 in Samba, 1100 in Kathua and 600 in Udhampur districts.
A spokesman said registration and distribution of tokens for Yatra will also remain suspended for the second day on Sunday.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said the safety of the yatris was of utmost importance and all arrangements were in place. “The Yatra is reviewed twice every day. We take hourly reports. I hope the weather improves from tomorrow so that the Yatra restarts,” he told reporters. The meteorological department has predicted widespread light to moderate rains, accompanied by thundershowers, under the influence of monsoon winds and western disturbances across Jammu and Kashmir till Sunday.
The 62-day annual pilgrimage to the shrine, situated at an altitude of 3,888 metres in the south Kashmir Himalayas, commenced from the twin tracks of Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district on July 1. The Yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 31.
Over 80,000 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine so far.
The pilgrims were stranded in Jammu and at various places including Chanderkote along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway, which was closed for traffic following multiple landslides and the washing away of a portion of the road near Panthiyal tunnel.
But the inclement weather has not dampened the spirits of devotees.
“I had to leave for the Valley to join the Yatra today (Saturday) but the closure of the highway and the weather did not allow further journey,” Deepu, a resident of Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, told PTI at Bhagwati Nagar base camp.
Deepu, who was accompanied by several friends, said they will wait for the weather to clear and will complete their Yatra. “We are here on the call of ‘Baba Barfani’ and are not going back unless we perform darshan,” he said. (PTI)
