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Bad weather disrupts yatra

By Luv Puri

Policemen checking the bags of Amarnath yatris at Chandanwari, South Kashmir, on Monday.— PTI

Jammu July 22. The month-long Amarnath yatra, which started with great enthusiasm, has been disrupted due to bad weather, leaving about 7,000 pilgrims stranded in Jammu.

So far, 10,297 pilgrims have left Jammu for the holy shrine. The first batch, which left on July 19, reached the holy cave this morning.

An official spokesman told The Hindu here today that the decision to suspend the yatra for two or three days was taken in view of reports of bad weather along the highway and from Pahalgam to the cave shrine. Pilgrims had been advised to leave for the base camp in Jammu only after ascertaining the status of the yatra. Arrangements had been made to lodge the stranded pilgrims in community halls and government schools in the city.

Meanwhile, yatris today protested the inadequate arrangements made by the authorities. Ram Kumar, a yatri from Uttar Pradesh, said the poor suffered as the accommodation provided by the authorities was inadequate to accommodate all the yatris. ``We have to seek shelter in hotels which are over-charging, knowing our plight.''

The Chief Minister, Farooq Abdullah, today visited the MAM stadium in Jammu, where the yatris are being put up, and reviewed the arrangements. He interacted with the yatris and assured them of all possible help from the State Government.

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