4,053 pilgrims pay obeisance; Pahalgam axis remains closed for repairs as LG Sinha reviews restoration work
Srinagar, July 25: The Shri Amarnath Yatra resumed on Saturday after a six-day suspension caused by inclement weather, with 4,053 pilgrims and security personnel paying obeisance at the holy cave shrine. With this, the total number of pilgrims who have paid obeisance since the commencement of the annual pilgrimage on July 3 has reached 3,95,904.
The pilgrimage, however, will continue through the Baltal axis as the Pahalgam route has been temporarily closed to facilitate urgent repair and maintenance work following recent heavy rainfall.
“Due to the recent rains, urgent repair and maintenance works are required to be carried out on the Pahalgam Axis of the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. The Yatra shall continue through the Baltal Axis, for which adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure a smooth and safe pilgrimage,” Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Anshul Garg said.
He appealed to pilgrims and all stakeholders to cooperate with the authorities and follow advisories issued from time to time in the interest of their safety and the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
Officials said a fresh batch of 6,269 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Saturday morning for Baltal in 223 vehicles after authorities reviewed the prevailing weather and road conditions. The batch comprised 4,720 men, 1,458 women, 25 children, 54 sadhus and 12 sadhvis. With the departure of the latest batch, the total number of pilgrims who have left the Jammu base camp for the pilgrimage this year has reached 1,19,029.
The Yatra was suspended on July 19 as a precautionary measure following persistent rainfall and adverse weather conditions across Jammu and Kashmir, particularly along the twin routes leading to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine in the Himalayas. The traditional 48-km Pahalgam route lies in Anantnag district, while the shorter 14-km Baltal route is located in Ganderbal district.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha chaired a high-level meeting with Camp Directors and senior officials to review ongoing repair and restoration work along the pilgrimage tracks in the wake of the recent heavy rainfall.
The Lieutenant Governor assessed the damage to tracks, safety railings and essential infrastructure and directed executing agencies and officials to prioritise vulnerable zones prone to mudslides and shooting stones.
To enhance pilgrim safety, he directed the deployment of additional Mountain Rescue Teams and stressed the need for proactive sharing of real-time weather updates with pilgrims. He also instructed officials to ensure that essential services, including power, water supply, communication and healthcare, remain fully operational.
The meeting was attended by Anshul Garg, Divisional Commissioner Kashmir; Rahul Singh, Additional CEO, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board; Amod Nagpure Ashok, SSP Anantnag; Dr GV Sundeep Chakravarthy, SSP Srinagar; Dr Bilal Mohiuddin Bhat, Deputy Commissioner Anantnag; Akshay Labroo, Deputy Commissioner Srinagar; Jatin Kishore, Deputy Commissioner Ganderbal; Sudhanshu Dhama, SSP Ganderbal; Camp Directors; and senior officials of the civil administration, Police, Army, security forces, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, BRO, Health, Meteorological and other departments.
The annual pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
