1000 yatris stranded, holy mace to leave for shrine

Srinagar, Aug 6: The holy mace of Lord Shiva today left base camp Pahalgam for Chandanwari, enroute to cave shrine on the last phase of the two-month-long pilgrimage which will conclude on August 9.

However, more than 1000 yatris are stranded at different halting points, including cave shrine after the pilgrimage was suspended from both routes, official sources said.

All devotees are safe and are being looked after by the yatra officials, the sources said.

Officials told UNI from Pahalgam that the traditional base camp of the yatra, that the holy mace, accompanied by more than 100 sadhus and other yatris left Pahalgam at 1400 hours despite incessant rains, amid chanting of vedic hymns and har har Mahadev.

The holy mace will rest at Chandanwari and will leave tomorrow for next halting point.

The final darshan will be on August 9, marking the culmination on the annual pilgrimage.

Meanwhile, Amarnath yatra from the shortest Baltal and Pahalgam routes has been suspended following heavy rains, Yesterday, no yatri was allowed from Pahalgam route after the 48-km track became slippery due to heavy rains.

The Baltal route has been closed as the 10-km track has become very slippery and dangerous because of heavy rains.

Sources said more than 1000 yatris are stranded at different halting stations and they will be allowed to move towards the cave shrine and back to Pahalgam only when weather improves.

Efforts are being made to resume the yatra from Baltal side where one wooden bridge was washed away at Railpatheri and reports of landslides were there at Kolan.

The helicopter service was resumed today after remaining suspended yesterday, they said adding more than 30 yatris were taken to cave shrine by helicopter today.

The Holy Mace will return to base camp Pahalgam on August 9 evening where pooja will be performed before bringing it back to Srinagar, Mahanat Giri, the custodian of the Mace told mediapersons here shortly before leaving for Pahalgam.

Official sources said about 2.90 lakh pilgrims have so far had the 'darshan' of the holy Shivlingam in the cave shrine despite threat perception. about 2.13 lakh devotees visited the shrine through Baltal route while only 47000 opted to undertake the journey from Pahalgam. Thirty thousand had visited the shrine before the yatra was officially declared open on June 11.

Sources said only about 96 per cent pilgrims had returned to their homes after darshan.

However, the number of pilgrims this time is very less as compared to last year when more than 4.5 lakh pilgrims had visited.

About 45 pilgrims from different parts of the country have died due to various reasons since the start of the pilgrimage. Two local labourers also died during the pilgrimage.

UNI