Srinagar: Due to adverse weather conditions in Jammu and Kashmir, the annual Amarnath Yatra has been suspended for the third consecutive day on Sunday. The closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway prompted authorities to stop a batch of devotees at the Jammu Base Camp. As a result, approximately 6,000 Amarnath Yatra pilgrims found themselves stranded at Ramban, according to officials. Among them, around 80 individuals from Karnataka were trapped near the Amarnath cave in Panchtarni due to the inclement weather.
Mussarat Islam, Deputy Commissioner of Ramban, assured that the administration is taking necessary measures to ensure the well-being of the pilgrims. The yatri niwas (pilgrim accommodations) in the area are equipped with all the required facilities. However, the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH 44) remains closed for vehicular traffic at Ramban due to a landslide.
Since the beginning of the Yatra on July 1, approximately 67,566 pilgrims have visited the Amarnath cave shrine. On July 5, a total of 18,354 pilgrims from both the Baltal and Nunwan base camps performed darshan at the shrine. The official statement reported that these numbers included 12,483 males, 5,146 females, 457 children, 266 sadhus, and 2 sadhvis. More pilgrims are expected to visit the shrine in the coming days.
The state agencies and civil departments are actively assisting the pilgrims throughout their journey, ensuring that all essential facilities are provided. Various departments, such as the police, SDRF, army, paramilitary, health, power development, public health engineering, urban local bodies, information, labour, fire and emergency, education, and animal husbandry, have been mobilised to meet the requirements and arrangements for the yatra. Camp directors are supervising the provision of facilities, including food distribution centres, healthcare services, and assistance from service providers such as pony handlers, porters, and sanitation workers.
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