Over 370 pilgrims enroute to the Amarnath cave shrine were evacuated and provided shelter by the Army on July 8, as intermittent heavy rains forced closure of the twin routes to the shrine in the Kashmir valley.
An Army spokesman said pilgrims, who were stranded enroute, have been evacuated. “253 yatris at the Barari Marg Camp and 126 yatris at the Chandanwari camp are comfortable. Army columns are reassuring support. Timely help and necessary assistance are being provided by the Indian Army,” an Army spokesman said.
The Army provided the stranded pilgrims with warm clothing, hot meals and heating arrangements. Temperature has also dropped significantly on the twin routes. “Medical aid was also provided to yatris stranded enroute due to the temporary suspension of the yatra,” the Army said.
The authorities suspended the pilgrimage for the second consecutive day on Saturday as wet weather turned the twin tracks in south and central Kashmir unfit for trekking of pilgrims. Several stretches also witnessed mudslides in the past 24 hours, officials said.
Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) Police’s Mountaineering Rescue Team (MRT) personnel rescue an Amarnath Yatra pilgrim after snow fall at the MG Top in Pahalgam, on July 8, 2023. | Photo Credit: PTI
Meanwhile, no fresh batch of pilgrims was allowed to proceed from Jammu to the Kashmir valley. Over 4,600 pilgrims have been halted at the Ramban Yatri Niwas camp in Chanderkote area, at the gateway to the Kashmir valley.
The Srinagar-Jammu national highway also witnessed landslips and shooting stones, resulting in the closure of the highway. Officials said more than 500 vehicles were stranded on the highway.
According to the meteorological department, intermittent light to moderate rain is likely to occur at most places in Jammu and Kashmir, “with possibility of heavy to very heavy showers at isolated places over the Jammu division and the Kashmir division”. The Met Department has also warned of flash floods in lower catchment areas, landslides and mudslides.
“There is possibility of temporary disruption of surface transportation over Srinagar-Jammu highway, the Mughal road, Srinagar-Leh highway and other major hilly roads,” the department said.
