Amarnath Yatra Resumes From Pahalgam, Baltal As Weather Improves
The CRPF’s Special DG called the yatra a big challenge and said top security measures had been put in place.
- Amarnath Yatra resumed on Friday after being suspended for a few hours due to heavy rains
- More than 500 pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine of Amarnath on the first day
- The annual Amarnath Yatra began on Wednesday from the Jammu base camp
- The government has mobilised a security blanket of over 35,000 to 40,000 troops, including the police, the Army, the BSF and the CRPF
- This year’s yatra will be eight days shorter than last year’s 48 days and will conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on 7 August
Amarnath Yatra Resumes from Pahalgam and Baltal
Amarnath yatra resumed from Pahalgam and Baltal routes after being suspended for a few hours on Friday due to heavy rains around the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
“The yatra has resumed from both the routes in view of the improvement in the weather condition,” an official of the SASB told PTI.
The authorities had suspended the yatra early Friday morning due to heavy rainfall around the 3880-metre high shrine.
Amarnath Yatra Suspended From Two Routes
The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board on Friday announced that Amarnath Yatra has been suspended from twin routes of Pahalgam, Baltal due to heavy rains.
Over 500 Pay Obeisance at Amarnath
More than 500 pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine of Amarnath while the second batch of 2,481 pilgrims left from Jammu for the twin base- camps of the yatra, amid tight security.
The pilgrims, comprising 1,638 males, 663 females and 180 sages, left for the base-camps in 66 vehicles, a police officer said.
The pilgrims are being escorted by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicles, the officer said.
Meanwhile, another police official said, "The yatra began early this morning from both the routes. So far more than 500 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave shrine housing the naturally formed ice-lingam."
Highest-Ever Security Setup to Ensure an Incident-Free Yatra
As the 40-day Amarnath pilgrimage took off from the Jammu base camp early morning on Wednesday, Jammu and Kashmir Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh said that all security arrangements have been put in place to ensure an incident-free yatra.
SN Shrivastava, Special Director General, CRPF, had said on Tuesday that the annual yatra was a "big challenge" and elaborate security was in place to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. The government has mobilised a heavy security blanket of over 35,000 to 40,000 troops, including the police, the Army, the BSF and the CRPF.
J&K Deputy CM Flagged Off the Yatra
The first group leaving for the high-altitude altar comprised 2,280 devotees. Minister of State for Tourism Priya Sethi and J&K Deputy Chief Minister Dr Nirmal Singh flagged off the convoy to the cave shrine dedicated to Lord Shiva in the south Kashmir Himalayas at about 4:35 am.
Intelligence Warning Prompted Highest Level of Security
As the 72-vehicle convoy left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas amid chants of "Jai Bholay Nath" and "Bum Bum Bholay", officials said intelligence warning had prompted the "highest level" of security arrangements.
The convoy of the first batch of pilgrims, including 1,811 men, 422 women and 47 sadhus, was escorted by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicles, an official said. While 698 left for the Baltal base camp in 25 vehicles, 1,535 pilgrims and 47 sadhus left in 47 vehicles for Pahalgam base camp from the Jammu base camp.
Nearly 25, 000 Paramilitary Personnel Provided by Centre
In addition to the existing strength of the CRPF in the state, the Centre has provided over 250 companies (25,000 personnel) of paramilitary forces to the state government.
The BSF has deployed over 2,000 troops for the yatra while the Army has provided five battalions (about 5,000 personnel). An additional 54 companies (5,400 personnel) of the police have also been mobilised.
The IGP said in a letter that went viral on social media after it was leaked:
This Year's Yatra to Be Eight Days Shorter
This year, the yatra will be eight days shorter than last year's 48 days and will conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on 7 August.
The state police’s Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs) along with rescue teams of various security forces have been operationalised along with fire fighting teams at pre-determined points.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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