SRINAGAR: The Srinagar-Sonamarg-Baltal road leading to the Amarnath Cave
shrine was opened on Monday after flash floods and landslides had blocked the highway between Sonamarg and Baltal camp for several days. The landslides that occurred between Sonamarg and Amarnath base camp in Baltal had claimed the lives of several pilgrims and others engaged in various businesses, on Friday. Many vehicles were washed away.
However, some eyewitnesses said it was a huge thud at around 10.30 pm and huge debris came down from the mountain, Friday night.
As the Sonamarg section of the highway had been damaged and was being repaired, the traffic to Baltal camp had been suspended.
Much of the damage to the 430 km Srinagar-Leh Highway occurred between Sonamarg and Fish Pond Point, near the Baltal base camp.
Bodies of Deepak Singh of Delhi and Pooja (13) and Vikram (12), both hailing from Rajasthan, have been recovered. Their parents and relatives were running roadside kiosks on the track near the yatra camp. The toll has gone up to five. One person dead hailed from Shopian in Srinagar, Deputy Commissioner, Ganderbal, said.
A ponywalla, Abdul Karim, was airlifted to Sher-e-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences (SKIMS) in Srinagar. Ten others were admitted to the Baltal base hospital. Thirty persons were extricated from the debris alive. Some people are still listed as misssing.
Fifty tents and shops around the Baltal base camp were destroyed. Some part of the Sonamarg-Leh highway has been washed away.
The army, paramilitary forces and the police were deployed for rescue and relief operations.
Langars and other facilities are running uninterrupted at Baltal camp.
A week ago also the Srinagar-Leh highway where Baltal base camp is located, remained closed for three days due to multiple landslides in Kulan, Gagangir and Sonamarg villages. Three people were killed. The highway re-opened after three days on July 19.
One Mahesh Prasad (59), resident of Uttar Pradesh, died of cardiac arrest at Sonamarg, 85 km from Srinagar, on July 18. A CRPF jawan had also died.
Many pilgrims are reported to have ignored the precautions regarding physical fitness for undertaking this arduous high altitude trek although the Government had made health certificate mandatory. According to Government sources, 24 people died of medical reasons, taking the toll of the season to 35.
Meanwhile, the pilgrimage continued on the Pahalgam route. Helicopter services from both Pahalgam and Neelgrath helipads were operating without interruption.
The Pahalgam route was also earlier closed for two days on July 12-13 due to inclement weather which led to the closure of Jammu-Srinagar highway. The 300-km highway was closed after landslides triggered by rains.
Over three lakh pigrims have visited the shrine so far. The two-month Amarnath Yatra, which commenced on July 2, will conclude on August 29, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals.
The Himalayan Cave shrine is situated at a height of 14,500 feet above sea level. The cave temple has a Shivalinga idol which is a naturally formed ice stalagmite. It waxes and wanes according to the environmental changes and the phases of the Moon.
