Amarnath yatra gradually picks up momentum

SRINAGAR, AUG 6: The flow of pilgrims arriving at the holy Amarnath cave is now picking up. Despite this, there is a slight decline in th...

SRINAGAR, AUG 6: The flow of pilgrims arriving at the holy Amarnath cave is now picking up. Despite this, there is a slight decline in the number of arrivals when compared to first ten days of the yatra last year.

The opening of the Baltal route has had little impact on the flow of pilgrims, despite it being much shorter than the Pahalgam route. The pilgrims would still like to avail, and prefer, the traditional and comparatively less arduous Pahalgam route to the cave.

The first five days registered a low turnout but as the yatra picked up, the arrivals increased substantially. From July 24 the day the yatra commenced to July 29, nearly 2,000-3,000 yatris performed the darshan. However, after this, there was a heavy rush and more than 5,000 yatris performed the darshan on August 2 alone. Around 4,000 reached the holy cave on August 3.

Figures with the Tourism Department reveal that 24,612 yatris performed the darshan during first ten days of the yatra. However, during the corresponding period lastyear, as many as 28,540 had visited the cave. The Director Tourism, Kashmir, said 57,665 persons had registered their names at the various registration centres throughout the country till July 27.

However, in contrast to the Tourism Department figures, the officials at the joint police control room, Pahalgam, said 23,772 yatris perforemd the darshan till yesterday. An official of the control room said 15,356 yatris had since returned home after the darshan.

Inclement weather affected the yatra for two days as only 1,277 yatris could perform the darshan on July 31 and August 1.

The involvement of private sector yielded better facilities to the yatris, according to the officials. Around 5,000 ride and 1,000 pack ponies are on standby to carry the yatris from Chandanwari to the holy cave, while 600 tents have been installed at various stoppage points for their night stay.

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Figures available with the Tourism Department say only 4,848 yatris used the Baltal route despite it being much shorter than thePahalgam route. From Baltal, the holy cave is only 18 kms while the distance from Chandanwari to the cave Pahalgam route is 45 kms.

The yatris prefer Pahalgam as it is the traditional route for the yatra as the Baltal route had remained closed and was opened for the yatra only after a court decision last year. The difficult track from Baltal to Amarnath cave was proving a major deterrent.

Besides, sources said, the Baltal route did not have the same arrangements as made on the Chandanwari-Amarnath cave stretch. There were adequate facilities for yatris at all the stoppage points from Chandanwari to the cave. This included installation of EMARSAT at the stoppage points and STD/ISD facility right till the cave by the Telecommunication Department.