Amarnath Yatra resumes day after landslide blocks highway; 4,474 pilgrims en route
A fresh batch of 4,474 pilgrims left the Jammu base camp early on Sunday for the annual Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir Valley after a major
A fresh batch of 4,474 pilgrims left the Jammu base camp early on Sunday for the annual Amarnath Yatra in Kashmir Valley after a major landslide on the Jammu-Srinagar Highway was cleared, officials said. The 19th batch of pilgrims travelled in a convoy of 166 vehicles under tight security and headed to the Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district. There was no pilgrim movement from Jammu to the Pahalgam base camp in Anantnag district because repair work is continuing on the traditional route after damage caused by recent rains.
Read Full Story On Saturday, Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, Anshul Garg had said, "Due to the recent rains, urgent repair and maintenance works are required to be carried out on the Pahalgam Axis of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra. The Yatra shall continue through the Baltal Axis for which adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure smooth and safe pilgrimage". He appealed to all pilgrims and stakeholders to cooperate with the authorities and follow advisories issued from time to time in the interest of safety and the smooth conduct of the Yatra.
Officials said the 57-day annual pilgrimage has been progressing smoothly, with over four lakh pilgrims having paid obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine since July 3. The yatra is scheduled to end on August 28 on Raksha Bandhan. A major landslide struck the Jammu-Srinagar Highway at Gangroo in the Ramsoo area of Ramban district on Saturday evening, just hours after the road was reopened following a three-day closure caused by multiple landslides, continuous rain and debris.
Road restoration agencies later pressed men and machinery into service and cleared the highway within a few hours, allowing the latest batch of pilgrims to continue their journey. Ends
The BriefWire