Amarnath Yatra Resumes, Stairway Made Overnight To Facilitate Devotees Approaching Holy Cave

Amarnath Yatra resumed on Monday after it was partially suspended following a cloudburst incident near the holy cave. The flash floods caused by it left sixteen dead and at least three dozen missing.

New Delhi: Amarnath Yatra resumed on Monday morning after it was partially suspended following a cloudburst incident near the holy cave. A fresh batch of Amarnath pilgrims started to move from the Jammu base camp in the early hours. Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board on Sunday informed that Amarnath Yatra would resume from the Nunwan Pahalgam side. The pilgrims were waiting at the Baltal Base camp for the yatra to recommence after a cloudburst triggered flash floods near the cave shrine of Amarnath on Friday leaving sixteen dead and at least three dozen missing.

"We are filled with energy and will not go back without the 'darshan' of Baba. We have full faith in Bhole Baba and are waiting for the darshan of Baba. We are happy that the Yatra has resumed. CRPF and other personnel have guided us to move ahead safely," said the pilgrims, as quoted by news agency ANI.

Choppers have been made available from both sides, Baltal and Nunwan.  A stairway towards the approach to the cave has been made overnight to facilitate the devotees, Chinar Corps of the Indian Army informed.

IAF Evacuates 34 Injured Amarnath Pilgrims To Srinagar, J&K LG Oversees Efforts For Resumption Of Amarnath Yatra 

Indian Air Force's Mi-17 V5 and Cheetal helicopters evacuated an additional 34 injured pilgrims on Sunday. The IAF helicopters also airlifted 20 NDRF personnel along with six canines to search for missing persons stuck under debris, ANI reported.

The Indian Army on Sunday inducted radars to trace survivors under the debris after the cloudburst incident. 

Earlier, Lieutenant Governor (LG) of Jammu and Kashmir Manoj Sinha on Sunday visited Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam and met pilgrims.

"The security personnel and administration have carried out an efficient rescue operation. We pay condolences to those who lost their lives. Efforts are underway to resume the Yatra along with repairing the path. Pilgrims should come, we will provide them with all facilities," Sinha assured, as quoted by ANI.

He also oversaw efforts for the resumption of Amarnath yatra. Sinha will camp overnight at Nunwan to oversee rescue and relief operations and efforts being made to resume the yatra as soon as possible, an official spokesperson had informed, as reported by news agency PTI.

Meanwhile, as many as 35 pilgrims were discharged following treatment, Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) officials informed on Saturday. The critically injured patients were airlifted to Srinagar. 

As per the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) data on Saturday, at least 16 people died in the cloud burst incident near the holy shrine of Amarnath.