Amarnath Yatra crosses 4 lakh: LG expresses gratitude

Yatra resumes on Baltal axis in valley; suspended from Jammu due to rains

Srinagar: The Lieutenant Governor Shri Manoj Sinha today expressed gratitude to all the stakeholders involved in the arrangement of Holy Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra after it crossed the figure of 4 Lakh darshans today.

The Lieutenant Governor in post on X said: “Baba Amarnath makes the impossible, possible. With his blessings, the Holy Yatra today crossed the figure of 4 Lakh. I bow to Lord Shiva for this miracle and express my gratitude to everyone involved in making the holy pilgrimage a divine experience for devotees.

The record number of Darshans and arrival of devotees from across the country and the globe is a testament to India’s unity and its resolve to overcome the challenges. I am truly thankful to the devotees, who have shown immense faith and strengthened our priceless spiritual heritage.

This godly expedition is incomparable not because it is arduous and challenging but because it is an inimitable journey into pure bliss. It’s a spiritual experience and gives an opportunity to devotees to know themselves and offers deep trust and fills their hearts with infinite gratitude”.

The Amarnath Yatra resumed from the Baltal axis in the Kashmir valley on Thursday but was suspended from Jammu due to inclement weather conditions.

No fresh batch of pilgrims was allowed to proceed from Jammu to the cave shrine in the South Kashmir Himalayas this morning, officials said.

In view of maintenance works on the Pahalgam axis of the Amarnath Yatra route following the rains, the yatra will continue only through the Baltal axis.

Torrential rains in Kashmir had rendered the roads unsafe, following which the pilgrimage was suspended on both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes on Wednesday.

“The yatra resumed this morning from the Baltal route,” an official said, adding, “In view of maintenance works required to be carried out on the Pahalgam axis of Amarnath Yatra route following the recent rains, the yatra shall continue only through Baltal axis.”

The official said that no convoy movement would be allowed towards the Baltal and Nunwan base camps from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu on Thursday.

This is the second time the yatra has been suspended from Jammu. On July 17, the yatra was suspended due to heavy rains at the twin base camps in Kashmir.

Over 3.93 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the ice lingam of Lord Shiva at the 3,880-metre high cave shrine since the 38-day pilgrimage commenced on July 3 from the Valley.

A total of 1,44,124 pilgrims have departed from the Jammu base camp for the Valley since July 2, when Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch.

Last year, over 5.10 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine.