The annual Amarnath Yatra started again from Jammu on Saturday, July 25 after a six-day stop because of rain and bad weather in Jammu and Kashmir. A new group of than 6,000 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar base camp for the Kashmir Valley. They did this under security measures.
Details of the Resumed Batch
Officials said that the 18th group of the journey had 6,269 pilgrims. This group included 1,470 women, 25 children and 54 sadhus. They left in a line of 223 cars at 2:40 am for the Baltal base camp. The group moved safely through Udhampur on the way to the Kashmir Valley. Pilgrims were protected with security because this was the first time they were moving after nearly a week of stopping.
Why the Yatra Was Stopped
The Jammu and Kashmir administration stopped the yatra on both the 48-kilometre Pahalgam route and the shorter 14-kilometre Baltal route on July 19. This was because of a warning from the India Meteorological Department about rain in the Union Territory. The rain made the paths to the holy cave shrine for pilgrims. That is why the stop was extended.
There was another problem. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which is the road between the two areas was closed for three days because of landslides and falling rocks. This made it harder for pilgrims to move even after the weather improved on the paths.
One Route Open Now
Even though the yatra has started again only the Baltal route is open for pilgrims from the Jammu base camp. The Pahalgam route is still closed. This is because the weather is not good enough in that area according to officials.
How the Restart Happened
Officials said the decision to start again came after checking the weather and the ground conditions. They also fixed the paths that were affected. The weather got better. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was open again. So they decided it was safe for the yatra to continue.
Pilgrim Feelings
Some pilgrims told reporters they were happy and excited to be able to continue their journey. They thanked the security people and the officials for keeping them safe and comfortable during the stop. Even though the six-day break was long the pilgrims did not lose their faith. Many said they were ready to finish their trip soon as the paths were open again.
About This Years Pilgrimage
The 57-day Amarnath Yatra started on July 3. That was a day after the Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha started the group from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp on July 2. The pilgrimage will end on August 28. That is the day of the festival called Raksha Bandhan. Far nearly four lakh pilgrims have visited the cave shrine. 1.20 Lakh of them started their journey from the Jammu base camp.
Weather Problems in the Area
Even with the yatra starting again there are still weather problems in other parts of Jammu and Kashmir. In Doda district there has been rain. This has made some roads close. The Doda-Pul Doda Road and the Pul Doda-Ghat GMC Road are closed. Other small roads are also blocked. The Deputy Commissioner of Doda Krishan Lal says they are watching the situation closely. This is because the rivers and streams are still full of water because of the rain.
A Common Problem Every Year
Weather issues are not new during the Amarnath Yatra. The journey goes through mountain areas during the monsoon season. Heavy rain can cause landslides rocks falling and unsafe paths on the Pahalgam and Baltal routes. Officials always put the safety of the pilgrims first. They stop the journey if the weather is a risk even if that means stopping thousands of people who’re already on the way or waiting to leave.
What Comes Next
The yatra is now starting again on the route. Authorities are still checking the Pahalgam route. More groups of pilgrims are expected to leave the Jammu base camp in the few days. This will depend on the weather. Because of the rain in other parts of the area including Doda district authorities will keep a close eye on the weather. They want to make sure pilgrims are safe for the rest of the 57-day journey.
What Comes Next
More information about why Kumar was kept in custody any charges that might be filed and the whole situation about the room booking will come out as the Delhi Police work on the case. Kumar is a well-known leader from the Congress party. So this incident is likely to get a lot of attention from the media and politicians. How the people, from Kerala House and Kumar himself explain what happened will be watched closely.
