With protests and violence continuing in Kashmir, several hundreds of Amarnath Yatra pilgrims from Karnataka are stranded in that State. At least 300 people from Karnataka have been identified as being stuck in Kashmir, following the violence that also saw the suspension of the yatra.
At least 300 pilgrims are stationed at Sonamarg, nearly 80 km from Srinagar. “They are stationed at an Army camp, and as of now, they are safe. The Army is taking care of them,” Atul Kumar Tiwari, Resident Commissioner for Karnataka in New Delhi, said.
However, many more from the State are believed to be stranded at Baltal Base Camp, nearly 100 km from Srinagar.
Leela Sampige, a Joint Director of the State Health Department in Bengaluru, said her daughter, M.J. Deepika, had been stuck at the Baltal camp for the past three days. “She left the city for Amarnath as part of a package tour on July 5. After completing the darshan on July 7, she and her husband were asked to stay at the Baltal camp itself by the Jammu and Kashmir police,” she said.
Ms. Deepika is a Bengaluru-based artist.
Dr. Sampige, who is in constant touch with her daughter, said food and water were being supplied at the camp. “It is cold and raining at the camp. Pilgrims have been demanding that they be allowed to return to Srinagar under Army escort. There is a feeling that they cannot continue to stay at the camp indefinitely,” she said, and added that with no Internet connectivity and intermittent mobile connectivity, her daughter was unaware of the violence in Kashmir.
Meanwhile, on Sunday, the State government formed a three-member team of officers from Karnataka Bhavan in New Delhi to coordinate the return of the pilgrims from Srinagar.
