Avtar Bhat
SRINAGAR/JAMMU, July 10: The movement of yatris to holy cave was suspended from Baltal track due to incessant rains this morning for the day. But after the improvement in weather conditions it was later resumed in the evening.
According to an official spokesman no yatri was allowed to proceed towards holy cave from Baltal base camp after 7-40 am today. He said till then 3,124 yatris had crossed Access Control Gate at Domel and they were proceeding towards the holy cave of Lord Shiva.
However after resuming the yatra in the evening a total number of 6,204 pilgrims left from Baltal to holy cave.
He said the yatris who were not permitted to leave for holy cave from the Baltal were asked to have a night halt at base camp for the day and in case weather permits they would be allowed to move for darshan after yatra resumes tomorrow.
However the yatris from Pahalgam route were allowed to cross the Access Control Gate at Chandanwari till 11 am after it was suspended for half an hour in the morning due to heavy downpour, spokesman added.
He said from Nunwan base camp 5,477 pilgrims left for holy cave.
He said 10,415 pilgrims performed the darshan in holy cave today. While 1,73,593 pilgrims had performed darshan upto late last night. With this the total number of pilgrims paying obeisance at cave shrine in last 13 days since first day of darshan on June 28 has reached 1,84,008.
Meanwhile in a handout Navin K Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) said on the instructions of Governor N N Vohra, who is also the ex-officio Chairman of the SASB, rigorous monitoring of the weather situation commenced after last midnight.
Mr Choudhary said that he has been himself constantly in touch with the Weather Department, all the camp directors, district officials and commandants of various security forces enroute yatra. As there seemed no improvement in weather and the track had become slippery, the CEO issued directives to Camp Director Domel to suspend the yatra.
The CEO also issued directives to Camp Director at Sheshnag not to allow pilgrims to leave towards Panjtarni after 11 am. He spoke to Army officers and camp directors to ensure patrolling by security forces personnel, rescue teams of the State Police, NDRF personnel and SDRF on yatra route on continuous basis this afternoon and help the stranded yatris, if any.
The CEO further informed that at the end of 12th day of yatra yesterday, a total of 173,593 pilgrims had performed darshan at the holy cave at an average of 14,466 yatris per day.
In the meantime two more pilgrims died today enroute to holy cave. With this, the total number of pilgrims, who died during the ongoing yatra has reached to five.
One pilgrim Vijay from Srigandakeval, Karnataka, breathed her last due to cardiac arrest at Baltal base camp yesterday.
The pilgrim along with her husband had reached Baltal base camp the day before yesterday and felt uneasiness. She was immediately referred to Government Medical Camp at Baltal. After doctors advise she decided to rest at the base camp but died alter after cardiac arrest.
After completing the legal formalities the body will be shifted to Srinagar.
Another pilgrim J L Shaw, from Kolkata, breathed his last at Sher -e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS), Soura where he was admitted following illness yesterday. The yatri had performed the pilgrimage and was on his way back to his home state.
Mr Choudhary again made an appeal to yatris not to proceed further to perform the arduous journey to holy cave if they are not confident of their fitness. He also directed the camp directors not to allow any yatri to proceed further if his health condition is not fit for journey.
Meanwhile a fresh batch of 1,558 pilgrims in a cavalcade of 48 vehicles left for holy cave from Bhagwati Nagar Jammu Base Camp early this morning under tight security arrangements. All these yatris had crossed the Jawahar Tunnel by the evening and were on their way to further destinations. This was the 14th batch of yatris that left Jammu base camp for holy cave today.
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