Amarnath yatra expected to resume from Baltal route tomorrow

Vohra, who is also the Chairman of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), reviewed the current status of the  restoration works which were being carried out to clear the  enormous debris which had flowed downhill near the Baltal base camp after heavy rains and cloudburst on Friday night.

Senior SASB officials had rushed to the base camp early yesterday morning to co-ordinate the rescue and  rehabilitation works, an official spokesman said.

The CEO of the SASB P K Tripathi informed the Governor  that by deploying the required manpower and machinery, the  enormous accumulation of debris had since been largely cleared and the parking space near the base camp had been restored for use.

The Governor was also informed that the road from  Srinagar to Baltal is likely to be opened for two-way traffic  from tomorrow, for the movement of convoys of pilgrims from the Manigam camp to Baltal.

Three persons including two children were killed while  19 others were injured after a cloudburst struck in the Baltal area on Friday night, forcing suspension of the pilgrimage from the shorter route yesterday.

“Power and water supply are fully functional and  sufficient stocks of essential commodities are also available  at the base camp. All the Langars, except one which suffered some damage, are functioning normally in Baltal,” the spokesman said.

Tripathi said despite stoppages and hold-ups on the  Baltal end, the pilgrimage had continued without any  interruption from the Pahalgam route.

The helicopter services have been functioning normally  and over 4,000 yatris had “darshan” at the cave by today  evening, taking the total number of yatris who have paid  obeisance to 2,95,000.