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Tag: Amarnath Yatra

  • Amarnath Yatra suspended from Jammu due to inclement weather

    By PTI

    JAMMU: The Amarnath Yatra has been suspended from Jammu due to inclement weather conditions and no fresh batch was allowed to proceed from here to the base camps of the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.

    A flash flood triggered by a cloudburst near the cave shrine on Friday afternoon has led to the death of least 16 people. Around 40 people are still missing.

    “Amarnath Yatra has been suspended from Jammu to twin base camps in Kashmir due to inclement weather. No fresh batch was allowed to move towards Amarnath” an official said.

    The annual 43-day pilgrimage commenced from the twin base camps — Nunwan-Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag and Baltal in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal — on June 30.

    ALSO READ: Undeterred by Baltal tragedy, Amarnath pilgrims continue to throng Jammu in hordes 

    Over one lakh pilgrims have offered prayers at the cave shrine, housing the naturally formed ice ‘shivling’, the officials said.

    A total of 69,535 pilgrims have left in 10 batches from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for the Valley since June 29, the day the first batch of pilgrims was flagged off by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha. The yatra is scheduled to end on August 11 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

  • Undeterred by Baltal tragedy, Amarnath pilgrims continue to throng Jammu in hordes 

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Undeterred by the deadly flash floods that have claimed at least 16 lives at Baltal, devotees thronged the Amarnath Yatra base camp in Jammu on Saturday with a “high degree of enthusiasm and devotion” for their onward journey to the cave shrine situated at a height of 3,880 metres in the south Kashmir Himalayas.

    Expressing grief over the tragedy that occurred on Friday, the pilgrims said they have no fear as they have full faith in Lord Shiva, adding that it would be a great privilege for them if they die in the abode of the god.

    The 43-day annual pilgrimage started on June 30 from the twin routes — the traditional 48-km route from Nunwan in Pahalgam in south Kashmir’s Anantnag and the 14-km shorter but steep Baltal route in Ganderbal district of central Kashmir.

    Over one lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave shrine as the yatra is scheduled to end on August 11 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan.

    “We reached Jammu on Saturday. We have no fear. We have come here taking the name of Lord Shiva. If the god takes our lives here, we will accept it. But we have come to have darshan of Bholenath and nothing can stop us from doing that,” Anantajit, who has come along with his wife and two children from Tripura, said.

    Pointing out that those who have been born will also have to die one day, he said, “If the death occurs in the abode of Shiva, it would be the most pious thing to happen to anyone.” 

    Chanting “Bam Bam Bhole”, “Har Har Mahadev” and “Bholenath Ki Jai”, a group of 60 enthusiastic pilgrims from Rajkot in Gujrat entered the Bhagwati Nagar base camp here for their onward journey to the twin base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal on Sunday.

    “We have no fear in our hearts and minds. Whether there is a cloudburst or flash floods, we will go to Amarnath with the blessings of Bholenath. We are enthusiastic to have darshan of the ice lingam as we could not visit the shrine in the last two years due to COVID-19,” Surinder Singh of Kanpur said.

    Over 6,000 pilgrims have arrived in Jammu from various parts of the country for their journey to Kashmir to pay obeisance at the cave shrine.

    A heavy rush was seen at the registration counters, token centres and lodging centres, apart from the base camp in Jammu.

    The shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure called the “lingam” that wanes and waxes with the phases of the moon.

    Devotees believe that the “lingam” symbolises the mythical powers of Shiva.

    ALSO READ | Amarnath Yatra starts amid heavy security in Valley

    The flash floods triggered by heavy rains have failed to alter the religious fervour and devotional mood in Jammu, officials said.

    “Pilgrims devoid of fear and with high enthusiasm are coming in hundreds. There has been no fall in pilgrim arrivals,” an official said.

    Over 3.42 lakh pilgrims had paid obeisance at the shrine from July 1 to August 1, 2019, before the Centre cancelled the pilgrimage midway, ahead of the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution and the bifurcation of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir into Union territories.

    At least 16 people have been killed while 15,000 pilgrims, who were stranded near the holy cave due to the flash floods, have been shifted to the lower base camp of Panjtarni, officials said.

    A massive operation is on to trace the missing people.

  • Amarnath Cloudburst: Yatra suspended till further notice

    By ANI

    NEW DELHI: As the situation in Amarnath yatra became critical after a cloudburst struck the area near the holy shrine with at least 10 dead, the pilgrimage’s suspended till the situation returns to normal, informed the officials on Friday.

    “Situation is under control, rains are still going on. Looking at the hazard level, the Amarnath Yatra has been halted temporarily due to the area being inundated. If the weather remains normal and makeshift arrangements are made, then the yatra can be resumed tomorrow,” said ITBP spokesperson PRO Vivek Kumar Pandey.

    After a cloudburst incident was reported near the holy cave area of Amarnath which reportedly claimed ten lives till now, Union Home minister Amit Shah took note of the situation and said saving the lives of people was on priority.

    The home minister also had a word with the Lieutenant Governor of Jammu and Kashmir, Manoj Sinha and said the rescue was underway.

    ALSO READ | Ten dead as cloudburst hits near Amarnath cave area, rescue operation on

    “I have spoken with Jammu and Kashmir LG Manoj Sinha pertaining to flash floods triggered by a cloudburst at Amarnath Cave. NDRF, SDRF, BSF & local admin are doing the rescue work. Our priority is to save the lives of people,” tweeted Shah.

    Informing about the incident ITBP PRO Vivek Kumar Pandey said “the Amarnath Yatra has been suspended till the situation turned normal. Likely to be resume by tomorrow.”

    The Disaster Management Authority of Jammu and Kashmir reported at least 10 casualties.

    A cloudburst incident took place at the holy cave area of Amarnath on Friday which resulted in a heavy discharge of water in the ‘Nallah’, adjoining the holy cave.

    According to the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) officials, the cloud burst occurred at the lower holy cave (Amarnath) at around 5.30 PM and the rescue teams rushed to the spot.

    ALSO READ | Spoke with J&K LG, all assistance being provided: PM Modi on cloudburst near Amarnath cave

    Earlier, IGP Kashmir informed that as many as two people have died so far.

    “Some langars and tents have come under cloud burst/flash floods at Holy Cave, two deaths reported. Rescue operation by Police, NDRF & SFs in progress. Injured being airlifted for treatment. Situation under control,” said IGP Kashmir, Vijay Kumar.

    A senior ITBP official said that water came from above and sides of the cave after it rained heavily at the upper reaches. The rain has stopped for now.

    A team of Central Armes Police Force and the Indian Army acted swiftly and carried out the evacuation operation, which is currently underway.

    The official has informed that the flow of water in the Nallah turned normal after the rain stopped. “Some casualties feared. No clarity as of now. Rescue teams are on the job,” the official said. More details are awaited.

  • Amarnath Yatra: Teams to be positioned along Jammu-Srinagar NH to help pilgrims 

    By PTI

    JAMMU: Rescue teams will be deployed along the Jammu-Srinagar national highway to provide help to pilgrims during the upcoming Amarnath yatra, police said on Monday.

    The decision to deploy the rescue teams on the highway, especially in slide-prone areas, was taken at a security review meeting chaired by Superintendent of Police, Ramban, Mohita Sharma, a police spokesman said.

    It was also decided that sufficient manpower will be deployed in advance so that the base camps and routes of the yatra are secured and checked at the earliest.

    The 43-day-long Amarnath yatra is scheduled to start on June 30 from the twin routes – traditional 48-km Nunwan in south Kashmir’s Pahalgam and 14-km shorter Baltal in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal — after a hiatus of two years owing to the coronavirus pandemic.

    Addressing the meeting, the SP Ramban called for an effective mechanism and planning for smooth and peaceful conduct of the yatra.

    Sharma asked officers to focus on sensitive locations and base camps while putting in place security arrangements.

    “The coordination mechanisms and communication systems must be established among counterparts of all stakeholders of the Army, Central Armed Police Forces, police and civil administration,” the SP added. 

  • Ahead of Amarnath Yatra, security forces concerned over ‘sticky bombs’, reworking SOP

    By PTI

    SRINAGAR: With the Amarnath Yatra around the corner, security forces in Jammu and Kashmir are concerned over terrorist groups possessing “sticky bombs” — explosives that can be attached to vehicles and detonated remotely — and are reshaping their standard operating procedure for the pilgrimage, officials said on Sunday.

    According to them, interrogation of arrested terrorists and their sympathisers and other evidence suggest that while some “sticky bombs” have been recovered by security forces, many of them may have found their way into terror groups in Kashmir Valley.

    Recently a drone flying in from Pakistan developed a technical snag and was spotted by people in Kathua.

    Later, the police recovered arms and ammunition, including seven magnetic bombs or “sticky bombs”, from the place.

    Concerned over the development, the security agencies reworked their strategy, especially keeping in mind the Amarnath Yatra beginning June 30.

    About three lakh pilgrims are likely to take part in the pilgrimage to the cave shrine located in the upper reaches of south Kashmir.

    It is expected to end on August 11.

    It has been decided that vehicles of pilgrims as well as of security forces will be secluded during their movement, the officials said.

    Instructions have also been issued to the security forces as well as those managing the pilgrimage not to leave vehicles unattended.

    When contacted, Inspector General of Police (Kashmir range) Vijay Kumar said the security forces are dealing with the menace.

    “We have taken adequate precautions,” he told PTI.

    The “sticky bombs’ emerged on the terror scene in Kashmir in February last year when these were recovered from Samba of Jammu region, indicating initiation of a new phase of terrorism in the union territory.

    It was the first such recovery of “sticky bombs”, used largely in Afghanistan and Iraq.

    In India, it was used by suspected Iranian terrorists who targeted the vehicle of an Israeli diplomat in February 2012, resulting in injury to his wife.

    Sticky bombs, which were also used by the British forces during the World War II, can be put on any vehicle and detonated through a remote control or an in-built timer, the officials said.

    The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is currently probing a mysterious blast on a passenger bus in Katra in Jammu last month that left four people dead.

    Though police had downplayed the incident but a little known terror group released a video claiming it to be their handiwork.

  • 43-day annual Amarnath yatra in J&K to begin on June 30

    By PTI

    JAMMU: The annual pilgrimage to the shrine of Amarnath located at a height of 3,880 metres in south Kashmir Himalayas has been scheduled to commence on June 30, an official said on Sunday.

    The decision to schedule the 43-day pilgrimage was taken at a meeting of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board chaired by Lt Governor Manoj Sinha.

    “Today chaired Board meeting of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board. The 43-day holy pilgrimage will commence on 30th June with all covid protocols in place & culminate, as per the tradition, on the day of Raksha Bandhan. We had in-depth discussion on various issues also on upcoming Yatra,” Sinha wrote on twitter.

    The Amarnath yatra was cancelled midway in 2019 ahead of abrogation of Article 370 in August that year, while only a symbolic yatra was observed the past two years due to the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic.

  • Jammu & Kashmir allots 25 kanals land to Amarnath shrine board

    Express News Service

    SRINAGAR:  The Lt Governor administration in Jammu and Kashmir has allotted 25 kanals of land in Srinagar to Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), which manages the annual Amarnath yatra to cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas, on rent of Rs 10 per kanal per annum for a period of 40 years.

    The Revenue department in order No 56-JK-(Rev) of 2021 dated 20-8-2021 accorded sanction to grant of 25 kanals of land at Pantha Chowk area in Srinagar in favour of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board.

    The land has been given on lease of 40 years from the date of taking over the possession on payment of nominal ground rent of Rs 10 per Kanal per annum without charge of any premium subject to the condition that the land shall be used only for the purpose for which it is granted.The land has been granted to the Amarnath Shrine board for construction of office and Yatra niwas.

  • Amarnath Yatra cancelled for the second year in a row due to Covid pandemic

    By Express News Service
    SRINAGAR: For the second consecutive year, the annual Amarnath yatra has been cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

    The decision to cancel the yatra was taken after Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, who is also chairman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), held detailed deliberations with Chief Secretary Arun Kumar Mehta, DGP Dilbag Singh, Principal Secretary Home Shaleen Kabra, and Principal Secretary to Lt Governor, Nitishwar Kumar, who is also the CEO of Shrine Board.

    “However, all the traditional religious rituals shall be performed at the cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas as per the past practice,” an official spokesman said.

    The shrine board has put in place a virtual and televised mechanism for live Darshan of Aarti from the shrine.

    “The devotees should be enabled to attend the morning and evening Aarti in online mode. It would help them to pay their obeisance while also avoiding travel and exposure,” the spokesman said.

    Lt Governor Manoj Sinha said it is important to save the lives of people.

    “So, it is not advisable to hold and conduct this year’s pilgrimage in the larger public interest. Amarnathji Shrine Board is aware of and respects the sentiments of millions of devotees, and to keep the sentiments alive, the Board shall continue the live telecast of morning and evening Aarti from the Cave shrine,” he said.

    The 56-day pilgrimage was scheduled to start from June 28 and conclude on Raksha Bandhan on August 22.

    The advance registration of pilgrims for yatra had started from April 1 through 446 designated banks while online registration had started on April 15. However, the registration was suspended on April 22 after the surge in Covid cases and deaths in J&K.

    The government was expecting 6 lakh yatris to visit the Amarnath shrine this year.

    After the outbreak of the Covid pandemic in 2019, the Amarnath yatra was cancelled in 2020. The yatra was also curtailed and called off mid-way in 2019 ahead of abrogation of Article 370 and bifurcation of J&K state on August 5, 2019.

  • Amarnath Yatra cancelled due to Covid pandemic: Lt Governor Manoj Sinha

    By PTI
    SRINAGAR: In the wake of the Covid pandemic, the Jammu and Kashmir administration has decided that the annual Amarnath Yatra will be kept symbolic, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said on Monday.

    He also directed officials to make arrangements so that devotees can virtually attend the morning and evening ‘aartis’ at the Himalayan cave shrine.

    This will allow them to pay obeisance while avoiding travel and exposure to the infection, the lieutenant governor (L-G) said .

    Amarnath yatra cancelled due to Covid-19 pandemic. It is for second succesive year that the Amanarth yatra has been cancelled due to Covid pandemic.@NewIndianXpress@TheMornStandard
    — Fayaz Wani (@iamfayazwani) June 21, 2021

    Sinha said that at the shrine all traditional religious rituals shall be performed according to past practice.

    The decision to keep the pilgrimage symbolic was taken after discussions with members of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, officials said.

    ALSO WATCH:

  • SASB suspends registration of Amarnath yatra due to COVID

    By PTI
    JAMMU: Registration of pilgrims for the upcoming annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas has been being temporarily suspended on Thursday due to the COVID-19 situation, officials said.

    The offline and online registration for the annual Amarnath Yatra through Baltal and Chandanwari routes will begin from April 1 and April 15 respectively.

    The 56-day yatra to the 3,880-metre-high shrine is scheduled to start from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal on June 28 and culminate on August 22.

    “In view of the evolving COVID situation in the country and the need to take all necessary precautionary measures, registration for Shri Amarnath ji Yatra is being temporarily suspended,” the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) announced on its Twitter handle on Thursday.

    It further said that the situation is being constantly monitored and the registration would be reopened once the situation improves.

    Registration started from April 1 for both the routes through 446 designated bank branches — Punjab National Bank (316), the Jammu and Kashmir Bank (90) and the YES Bank (40) — all over the country.

    Nitishwar Kumar, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) confirmed the development and said that the situation is being constantly monitored and the registration would be reopened once the situation improves.