Looking at the tensions prevailing in Jammu and Kashmir, an advisory has been issued to evacuate the Amarnath pilgrims and tourists who planned their Independence Day weekend there.
Panic gripped Kashmir ever since a fresh order asking tourists and Amarnath Yatris to leave the Valley was issued on Friday, with the residents stocking up dry ration and essentials fearing long law and order disturbance. The state government yesterday issued an advisory to Amarnath pilgrims and tourists to curtail their stay in Kashmir immediately.
Four pilgrims have died during the past 24 hours taking the toll of pilgrims killed during this year's Amarnath Yatra to 26.
Officials of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), which manages the affairs of the annual Hindu pilgrimage to the Cave shrine, said since it started on July 1 this year, 1,93,545 pilgrims had darshan inside the Cave shrine over the past 15 days.
The Amarnath Yatra was suspended on Saturday with no pilgrim allowed to move towards the Kashmir Valley from Jammu due to a separatist-called protest shutdown, police said.
Amid Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir, PDP chief Mehbooba Mufti alleged that locals are being harassed in name of security checking. While addressing a press conference, she said that the sacred Yatra must not be a cause of problems for locals.
The 45-day long Amarnath Yatra started this year on July 1 and will conclude on August 15 coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival.
Amarnath Yatra: Over 67,000 pilgrims performed the Amarnath Yatra during the first five days while another batch of 5,124 yatris left Jammu on Saturday, officials said. The yatris on Saturday left Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in two escorted convoys for the Kashmir Valley. The Yatra began on July 1.
A police constable was arrested for allegedly recording the video of women devotees taking bath at a camp during the ongoing Amarnath Yatra in Jammu.
Amarnath Yatra: A batch of 4,722 pilgrims left Jammu on Friday to perform the Amarnath Yatra as 50,483 devotees completed 'darshan' at the cave shrine till Thursday. While 2,147 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in an escorted convoy for the Baltal base camp, 2,575 proceeded to Pahalgam, police said.
A batch of 5,522 pilgrims on Thursday left Jammu for the Himalayan cave shrine Amarnath after 33,694 yatris completed paying obeisance before the ice stalagmite structure of Lord Shiva over the past three days.
Train services on Banihal-Qazigund rail section in Kashmir Valley will remain suspended from Wednesday for some duration daily till the completion of the annual Amarnath yatra, railway officials said.
Close to 6,000 pilgrims on Tuesday left Jammu for the Amarnath caves amid tight security after over 8,000 devotees offered puja in the cave shrine on the first day of the annual pilgrimage.
Divisional Commissioner Baseer Ahmad Khan said that additional transit camp has been established at Panthachowk with all basic amenities enough to cater to 2000 pilgrims.
Amid tight security, the first batch of pilgrims left the base camp early Monday morning to begin this year's Amarnath Yatra to the cave shrine.
A total of 2,234 pilgrims, including 17 children, reached the base camps of Nunwan-Pahalgam and Baltal on Sunday as part of the first batch of this year's yatra.
The Amarnath Yatra has begun amid tight security. The 45-day long annual Yatra to the Himalayan Cave Shrine situated 3,888 metres above the sea-level will end on August 15 coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival. No traffic will be allowed from Srinagar to Jammu till the convoy of yatris cross the Jawahar Tunnel.
The 46-day long Amarnath pilgrimage to the cave shrine located at an altitude of 3,880 meters in south Kashmir's Anantnag has begun amid tight security arrangement given the terror threat in the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
IGP Kashmir and IG CRPF held a detailed security review meeting with the officers of police, CAPF and other law enforcement agencies for facilitating synergy, better coordination & communication among forces during the Yatra.
A Border Security Force (BSF) plane carrying the Home Minister landed at the technical area of Srinagar airport at 3.15 p.m. Shah is accompanied by a high-ranking team of the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA), which includes Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba.
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