Drop in Amarnath arrivals this year

SRINAGAR, JULY 31: Though the Kargil battle is over, it has cast a shadow on this year's Amarnath yatra. Compared to last year, there is ...

SRINAGAR, JULY 31: Though the Kargil battle is over, it has cast a shadow on this year’s Amarnath yatra. Compared to last year, there is around 50 per cent decrease in the arrival of pilgrims to the holy cave. The opening of Baltal route too has had little impact on the flow of yatris, despite it being much shorter than the Pahalgam route.

One of the reasons behind the decrease in the arrival of yatris this year is believed to be some media reports which had said that the yatra route was in the range of intruders occupying various heights in Kargil. The IED blasts on the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway last month, in which several persons were killed, have also proved a deterrent for the yatris, according to the organisers.

Figures with the Tourism Department reveal that 57,667 persons have registered their names at various registration centres throughout the country from July 1 to 27. As many as 9,207 yatris have already performed darshan at the holy cave till July 28. However, last year around 1.5 lakhyatris had darshan of the Shivling. The low turnout of pilgrims is also affecting the private sector involved in the yatra arrangements as 5,000 ride and 1,000 pack ponnies are on standby to carry them from Chandanwari to the holy cave.

However, in contrast to the Tourism Department figures, Sheikh Abdul Majid, SP, joint police control room, Pahalgam, said 22,197 pilgrims had arrived in Pahalgam till July 30. He said of these, 13,639 had performed the darshan while 6,428 had returned to their homes. He said due to bad weather, the pilgrims were stopped at Chandanwari today, but as the weather improved by 11 am, they were allowed to proceed.