Banihal, Jul 25: The Shri Amarnath Yatra resumed on Saturday after remaining suspended for six days due to inclement weather and the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway following heavy rain, landslides and shooting stones. The decision to resume the pilgrimage was taken after weather conditions improved and the authorities reviewed the safety of the route.
According to the Joint Police Control Room, Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu, a fresh convoy of 6,269 pilgrims left the base camp at 2:42 a.m. for the Baltal route in 223 vehicles, comprising 118 buses, 60 mini-buses and 45 light motor vehicles. The convoy included 4,720 men, 1,458 women, 25 children, 54 sadhus and 12 sadhvis.
With the latest batch, the total number of pilgrims who have departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu this year has reached 119,029, according to official figures.
The pilgrimage had been suspended since July 19 after persistent rainfall triggered landslides, mudslides and shooting stones at multiple locations along NH-44, posing risks to pilgrims and other commuters. The Yatra resumed after weather conditions improved and restoration work on the highway made travel feasible.
Deputy Commissioner Ramban Mohammad Alyas Khan and Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Ramban Arun Gupta accompanied the Yatra convoy up to the Lambar Ground Langar site in Banihal to oversee arrangements and ensure the smooth and safe movement of the pilgrims.
