Yatra from Baltal suspended, progressing smoothly from Pahalgam

So far 3.16 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas since the commencement of the annual pilgrimage from July Ist.

Helicopter service from Baltal to cave shrine has also been suspended due to poor visibility.

Meanwhile, fresh batch of 3926 yatries, including women, sadhus and children left Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu, base camp early this morning for Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam base camps. Yatra from Jammu was suspended due to bad weather on Friday though civilian traffic was plying normally on the highway, the only all weather road connecting Kashmir with the rest of the country.

No yatri was allowed from Baltal base camp as a precautionary measure due to slippery condition of track to holy cave due to rain during the night, yatra official told UNI.

The sky is cloudy and there is slight rain also, he said, adding yatra from this shortest route will be resumed only after improvement in the weather and track condition.

Similarly, he said, yatries, who were scheduled to leave cave shrine after darshan on Friday for Baltal this morning have also been stopped to prevent any accident.

However, yatra was progressing smoothly on traditional Pahalgam track. Fresh batches of pilgrims left Nunwan Pahalgam base camp for Chandanwari, first halting station on the route which can be reached on vehicles also.

Pilgrims, who had night halt at different halting station on the track also started their onward journey towards the cave shrine.

Yatra official said on the 26th day of Yatra on Friday, 5,745 Yatris paid obeisance at the Holy Cave.

Pilgrims, who had night halt at different places are reaching cave shrine to pay obeisance.

So far 3,16 Yatris had the darshan of the Shivling at the Holy Cave.