Srinagar, July 11: Amarnath Yatra resumed from the traditional Pahalgam route on Monday while it remained suspended from the Baltal side for the third consecutive day, according to officials.
The yatra had been suspended following a huge cloudburst occurred near the holy cave shrine on July 8 that washed away many tents, leaving at least 16 pilgrims dead, 35 others injured and several others still missing.
They said the yatries were allowed on Monday to proceed from Nunwan base camp at Pahalgam and halting points at Chandanwari and Panjtarni.
However, the yatra remained suspended for the third consecutive day from the shortest route of Baltal in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
Meanwhile, the air service was operating from Baltal to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath, they said.
The weather on both sides of the yatra route is dry and partially cloudy.
A massive rescue operation launched by the Police, security forces, Indian Army, Air force, NDRF and other concerned agencies to remove the debris and locate the missing is underway for the third day.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha who visited Nunwan Pahalgam base camp on Sunday to take stock of the situation interacted with the yatries also. He had said “We are hopeful to resume the yatra as soon as possible, added efforts are underway to repair the road damaged due to Friday’s cloudburst”.
About 3,000 pilgrims are at Baltal camp, awaiting official orders to move towards the cave shrine for darshan.
More than 1.13 lakh pilgrims had darshan at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath till Friday.
With UNI Inputs….
