Amarnath yatra resumes from both Baltal, Pahalgam routes

Srinagar, June 14 (UNI) After remaining suspended for three consecutive days, the two-month-long Amarnath pilgrimage resumed today from both Baltal and Pahalgam routes following improvement in weather conditions in Kashmir, officials said.

They said all the stranded devotees have been allowed to proceed on the pilgrimage from Baltal and Pahalgam base camps.

The pilgrimage had been suspended for three days due to landslides triggered by heavy snowfall and incessant rains at several places along the track to the holy cave shrine.

Thousands of pilgrims were stranded at both the base camps and awaiting clearance from the authorities to proceed to the holy Amarnath cave.

Meanwhile, no devotee was allowed to move from Jammu to the base camps at Baltal and Pahalgam even for the third day today, the officials added.

Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, S M Sahai, had sent a message to the Police Control Room (PCR), Jammu, on Sunday saying no pilgrim should be allowed to move from the winter capital for the holy cave shrine of Amarnath till weather conditions improve in the entire Valley.

The officials said the two-month-long Amarnath pilgrimage started as per schedule from the Baltal route on Sunday morning amid extraordinary security arrangements as devotees in large number proceeded on the holy journey.

The authorities had earlier announced that the pilgrimage has been suspended from the traditional Pahalgam route after heavy snowfall was recorded at Panchtarni and Sheshnag, the two halting points, since Saturday night.

Hours after, the pilgrimage was suspended on Sunday afternoon from Baltal route as well following heavy snowfall and incessant rains at Sangam Top.

A large number of devotees had already arrived here for their onward journey to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath situated on the narrow openings between the mountains of Lidder valley at a height of 3,888 mt in south Kashmir.

The Amarnath cave is one of the twelve holiest shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, collectively known as 'Jyotirlingas'.

More than 5,00,000 pilgrims are expected to visit the holy cave shrine this year. Last year, the pilgrimage remained incident-free and more than four lakh devotees had a glimpse of the 'ice Shivalingam' (phallic symbol of Lord Shiva).

The lingam is formed naturally with an ice stalagmite, which waxes and wanes with the moon.

The first batch of 606 pilgrims -- 328 men, 127 women, 24 children and 127 'sants' -- arrived at Baltal and Pahalgam base camps from Jammu on Saturday.

And the second batch of 1347 devotees -- 906 men, 233 women, 70 children and 138 'sants' -- reached the two base camps from Jammu on Sunday evening.

Security forces have been put on high alert along the 300-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and on routes to the holy cave shrine from Baltal and Pahalgam areas.

UNI AG LR PC1502