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Baltal
route opened to pilgrims heading
for Amarnath shrine
Srinagar:
After being halted for second time the annual pilgrimage to the cave
shrine of Amarnath resumed from the Baltal route on Saturday. According
to official sources, a batch of nearly 5317 pilgrims left for the cave
shrine. However, the Pahalgam route to shrine cave has not yet opened
following poor weather conditions. "Yatra will remain suspended from the
city on Saturday and Sunday due to inclement weather prevailing along
Pahalgam route." said official sources. Heavy rains have also been forecast
for next 24 hours. On Friday the annual pilgrimage was suspended for the
second time due to bad weather, even as Home Secretary V.K. Duggal reviewed
the security arrangements and hoped it would be incident-free. The pilgrimage
was halted Friday following heavy rains and fresh snowfall along the trek.
"The trek from Baltal as well as from Pahalgam is very slippery," said
Amarnath Shrine Board spokesman Madan Mantoo. The pilgrimage, which started
Saturday, was halted Sunday-Monday due to bad weather. The two-month-long
holy journey, which began on June 11, was suspended for three days immediately
after its commencement as the area received fresh snowfall. The rains
have rendered the twin track slippery between Sheshnag and Pachtarni on
Pahalgam route and various places on Baltal. Officials said all pilgrims
who were camping at various places enroute to the cave were safe and the
authorities were monitoring the situation. Over 10,000 pilgrims have visited
the shrine so far since 10th June.
-June 17, 2006
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