Weather halts movement from Jammu, Army rescues stranded 500 pilgrims, over 2.56 lakh perform darshan till date
Srinagar : The Amarnath Yatra was suspended on Thursday due to heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions affecting the routes from Jammu to the twin base camps of Baltal and Pahalgam. Despite the suspension, over 9,000 pilgrims were able to perform darshan at the holy cave, with a total of 9,020 pilgrims, including various demographics, participating in the rituals that day. The Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, indicated that no new batches of pilgrims would be allowed to proceed until repairs on the damaged tracks were completed, although those already at the Panjtarni camp were permitted to descend under supervision. This incident marks the first simultaneous suspension of the Yatra from both Jammu and the base camps this year. Since the Yatra commenced on July 3, a cumulative total of 256,233 pilgrims have visited the holy site. The Indian Army played a crucial role in rescuing approximately 500 stranded pilgrims due to landslides caused by the persistent rain. They provided shelter, food, and water to those affected, while also conducting a manual stretcher evacuation for a critically ill pilgrim. The situation at the affected sites was reported as stable, with the Army remaining on high alert for any further developments. Weather forecasts predict light rains in the area, and the Army’s prompt response underscores their commitment to ensuring the safety and well-being of all pilgrims during the Yatra.
