Srinagar: Yatra to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas remained suspended for the fourth day on Saturday from shortest Baltal track while it was progressing smoothly on traditional Pahalgam route.
Meanwhile, 2200 pilgrims, who had opted to undertake yatra from Pahalgam track, have been allowed to leave Bhagwati Nagar base camp Jammu for Nunwan base camp in south Kashmir.
"We allowed about 1300 pilgrims from Baltal track early this morning but had to halt the yatra again due to fresh mudslides, triggered by rain," official sources told UNI.
"The yatris who had left the base camp have been stopped at safe place, they said adding they will be allowed to move forward once weather improves and track become safe for undertaking foot journey. No fresh yatri will be allowed from Baltal base camp till a green signal is received," they said.
Meanwhile, yatris who had night halt at camps, including Panjtarni, are reaching the holy cave since early Saturday morning to have darshan of the self made Ice-Shivlingam. Over 5000 pilgrims had paid obeisance at the cave shrine during the past 24 hours, when yatra was resumed from Pahalgam track after two days of suspension due to slippery track conditions.
Yatra was going on smoothly from traditional Pahalgam track, sources said adding that about 3000 pilgrims, including women and sadhus, left Nunwan base camp for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station. Pilgrims, who had night halt at Pisso top, Sheshnag, Managuns and Panjtarni have been allowed to move towards the cave shrine on traditional track since early this morning.
Meanwhile, 326 pilgrims, including sick and aged, who were stranded at Panjtarni following incessant rain from the past several days along the Amarnath cave shrine route, were airlifted to Baltal base camp on Friday. The evacuation was done by Indian Air Force (IAF) choppers on the direction of Governor N N Vohra, who on Friday chaired a high level meeting after visiting Baltal, Panjtarni and Nunwan (Pahalgam) Yatra Camps for a first hand assessment of the ground situation.
