Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 16: Amid tight security, Shri Amarnath Ji yatra resumed today from Jammu after remaining suspended for two days for the second time in one week due to violent protests in Kashmir following the killing of Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani.
Amarnath yatra resumed from here this afternoon and around 100 vehicles including light and heavy vehicles left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for Baltal.
The yatra was first suspended on July 9 in the wake of violence in the Valley following the killing of the top Hizbul Mujahideen commander. It was again suspended on July 14 as authorities apprehended outbreak of violence after Friday prayers in Valley.
However, according to an official spokesman, 3200 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for base camp of Baltal this afternoon.
In addition to this, hundreds of more pilgrims left for base camp of Baltal without entering the Yatri Niwas. All these pilgrims were on way to Baltal, where from they will leave for darshan of holy cave situated at an altitude of 13000 feet in deep Himalayas of South Kashmir district of Anantnag through the shorter track tomorrow.
The spokesman said the stranded yatris at different places on National Highway also left for Baltal today. The yatris were escorted by a big contingent of security forces.
Spokesman said 3,842 pilgrims paid obeisance at holy cave today despite the drizzling during the day. With this the total number of pilgrims paying obeisance at holy cave has touched 1,68,341, since the 48 day long yatra started on July 2,he added.
He said all the pilgrims stranded at Baltal were transported to Jammu late last night. He added that 1,992 pilgrims left the Baltal base camp for holy cave this morning despite inclement weather and drizzling.
The spokesman said though it was drizzling on yatra track and Baltal during the day but in the evening heavy showers lashed the area making the yatra track slippery.
Spokesman said pilgrims arriving from Jammu are being taken to Baltal base camp to avoid Anantnag-Pahalgam road for security reasons.
He said about 1,540 vehicles, carrying pilgrims who had paid obeisance at holy Amarnath Ji cave shrine, left Baltal base camp in the central Kashmir district of Kashmir for Jammu under unprecedented security arrangements late last night.
Meanwhile, one more pilgrim died at pony stand near holy cave today due to cardiac arrest taking the death toll in the ongoing yatra to 12.
He was identified as Mohan Lal, 65, S/o Mani Ram of Ujjain MP.
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