Latest news with #Amarnath
Time of India
3 days ago
- Climate
- Time of India
Rain-battered tracks halt Amarnath yatra; Army rescues 500 pilgrims stranded in landslides
Rain-battered tracks halt Amarnath yatra SRINAGAR/JAMMU: Jammu and Kashmir govt on Thursday morning suspended the pilgrimage to Amarnath shrine from the Jammu, Pahalgam, and Baltal base camps till the tracks, damaged due to incessant rain, are repaired. 'BRO has deployed men and machinery to repair the tracks for the resumption of the yatra on July 18,' a government statement said. The suspension of the yatra comes a day after a 52-year-old woman pilgrim from Rajasthan succumbed to injuries from a shooting stone and three others were injured in landslides along Baltal route in Ganderbal district Wednesday evening. 'Army rescued about 500 pilgrims stranded in landslides triggered by heavy rain. The yatra is scheduled to resume tomorrow, subject to weather conditions,' said defence PRO in Jammu, Lt Col Suneel Bartwal. About 2.5 lakh pilgrims have performed darshan at the cave shrine in the first 15 days of the 38-day yatra through the traditional Pahalgam route and the shorter Baltal route, added the statement. Over 5.1 lakh pilgrims visited Amarnath shrine in the 52-day yatra in 2024, the highest number in 12 years.
United News of India
3 days ago
- Climate
- United News of India
Indian Army rescues around 500 pilgrims stranded on Amarnath Yatra route due to landslides
Jammu, July 17 (UNI) The Indian Army today rescued about 500 Amarnath pilgrims who were stranded because of landslides triggered by heavy rains and shifted them to safer places. "Yesterday around 7:25 pm, persistent rain triggered a landslide at Z Morh, between Rayalpathri and Brarimarg, resulting in the halting of Yatra movement and stranding a large number of pilgrims," said Jammu-based defence spokesperson Lt Col Suneel Bartwal. "Responding to the situation, the Army detachment deployed at Brarimarg swung into action," he added. Around 500 yatris stranded in the area were accommodated in tents and provided with tea and drinking water, adding, "additionally, another 3,000 pilgrims found refuge in langars located between Brarimarg and Z Morh, which offered essential shelter and sustenance." The Indian Army Quick Reaction Teams (QRTs) rescued a critically ill stranded yatri by undertaking a manual stretcher evacuation under adverse weather conditions and safely transported the patient to Rayalpathri from where an ambulance moved the individual for further medical care, he added. The spokesperson said the camp director at Brarimarg and the company commander of the Indian Army are present at the site and have assessed the situation as stable and under control, adding, "efforts continue to ensure the safety and well-being of all yatris in the area." As per weather prediction, light rains at both Rayalpathri and Brarimarg are likely, and the Army remains on high alert to respond to any evolving situation, he said. "These prompt actions are yet another testament to the Indian Army's professionalism, dedication, and humanitarian commitment during Amarnath Yatra 2025, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with every pilgrim through every challenge", said the spokesperson. UNI VBH AAB
The Hindu
5 days ago
- The Hindu
Seven dead, 17 injured as passenger vehicle falls into gorge in J&K's Doda
Seven people, including a woman and a minor girl, were killed and 17 were injured when an overloaded passenger vehicle veered off a hilly road and plunged into a deep gorge in Doda district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday (July 15, 2025), officials said. The accident took place on the Doda-Bharth road near Ponda, some 30 kms from Doda town, when the driver of a tempo traveller lost control while negotiating a blind curve around 9 a.m., they said. Mohammad Ashraf (35), Mangta Wani (51), Atta Mohamed (33), Talib Hussain (35), and Rafeeqa Begum (60) were declared brought dead at Government Medical College Hospital, Doda, while five-year-old Uzma Jan and Shakur Din (30) succumbed to injuries at a hospital in Jammu, the officials said. Seventeen persons were shifted to hospital by rescuers, and the condition of some of them was stated to be critical, the officials said. Locals rushed to the scene soon after the vehicle fell into the gorge and were later joined by police and other security agencies' personnel. "The vehicle, which was on the way to Doda, was overloaded and a cognizance has been taken," Deputy Commissioner, Doda, Harvinder Singh told reporters. He assured adequate relief measures as per the rules to the families of the deceased and best possible treatment to the injured. J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, and Democratic Progressive Azad Party president Ghulam Nabi Azad have condoled the loss of lives in the tragic accident. In a condolence message, the Lt Governor has said, "Pained by the loss of lives due to tragic road accident in Doda. My heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families in this hour of grief. Praying for a speedy recovery of the injured." In a post on X, the office of the Chief Minister said "...the administration has been directed to ensure immediate medical assistance and support to all affected." The Chief Minister extends heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prays for the speedy recovery of the injured. Union Minister Jitendra Singh said he spoke to Deputy Commissioner Doda Harvinder Singh upon receiving the information about the accident. "All possible help and medical aid being provided. DC is personally supervising the entire exercise and giving me regular updates. Any further assistance, as required, will also be provided," Mr. Singh said in a post on X. He expressed condolences to the families of the deceased. Meanwhile, three other road accidents in Doda and Ramban districts claimed one life and left four others injured on Tuesday. One person was killed when his vehicle collided with another vehicle inside a tunnel in Banihal along the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway in Ramban district, the officials said. A couple was injured when a private SUV turned turtle at Bhagwa village of Doda, while two persons were injured when a bus carrying Amarnath pilgrims hit an iron railing inside Kela Morh tunnel in Ramban, the officials said.
India Gazette
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Gazette
After walking for 111 days Pilgrim from UP reaches Pahalgam for Amarnath Yatra
Anantnag (Jammu and Kashmir), July 15 (ANI): A man from Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri has been walking for the past 111 days in an extraordinary pilgrimage to the holy cave of Baba Amarnath in Jammu and Kashmir. Harnam Prasad, who is on a 7000 kilometer pilgrimage, has reached Pahalgam, carrying a 17 kg Kanwar on his shoulder. Harnam Prasad took on the pilgrimage from his house in Lakhimpuri, offering his prayers in Rameshwaran Jyotirling in Tamil Nadu, Srisailam Mallikarjuna Temple in Andhra Pradesh and visiting several religious places in Mathura, Vrindavan before reaching Pahalgam. 'I have been walking for one hundred and eleven days. I am taking a padyatra from Rameshwaram Jyoti Linga, to Baba Barfani Amarnath. On my way I have visited Srisailam Mallikarjun. After that, I went to Vrindavan Mathura and straight from Mathura I went to Delhi and visited Khatu Shyam Baba. Taking his blessings, I went straight to Jammu and Kashmir through Jammu and Punjab Haryana,' Harnam Prasad told ANI. Harnam Prasad lifted 17 kg Kanwar (sacred water pots) on his shoulders midway, from Madhya Pradesh's Jabalpur, and said with them he will cover a total of 1700 km of 7000 km pilgrimage, before doing 'abhishek' of Lord Shiva and Nandi Maharaj with the sacred water. 'I lifed the Kanwar in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, with them I'll cover seventeen hundred kilometers of 7,000 kilometers padyatra and perform abhishek on Mahadev on Nandi Maharaj,' he said. Prasad said that he only wishes for our blooming country to flourish and it should be Hindu nation. 'My only wish is that our nation should be Hindu nation, Gaumata should be our Rashtramata and Akhand Bharat should be built,' he said. On Sunday, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced that the ongoing Amarnath Yatra has surpassed the 2-lakh mark, with devotees continuing to throng the holy cave shrine. In a post on X, LG Sinha expressed his joy, stating, 'With Baba Amarnath Ji's blessings, the holy pilgrimage has crossed the 2 lakh mark today. This is a sacred journey of a lifetime, and I welcome all the devotees to discover and experience the divinity. Har Har Mahadev!' The 38-day annual Amarnath pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine in south Kashmir began on July 3 and will conclude on August 9. (ANI)
India Gazette
6 days ago
- India Gazette
J-K: 12th batch of devotees departs for Amarnath Yatra from Pahalgam's Nunwan base camp
Pahalgam (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], July 14 (ANI): The 12th batch of devotees departed from Nunwan base camp in Pahalgam for their pilgrimage to the Holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji on Monday morning. A devotee from Mumbai said, 'We are seven members. We are coming for the first time. Proper arrangements have been provided for food and sleep, but due to the rains, we are facing trouble. People are good. We will pray for the welfare of the people of Maharashtra.' Another devotee said that this is his sixth visit. He praised the security arrangements here. 'I have come from Maharashtra and this is his sixth visit. I have come here with 98 people. Last year I came with 150 people. I will come here every year. The arrangements are very good. There is a lot of excitement. We will pray for peace in the world. People in Kashmir are very supportive. People should come here without fear. The security arrangement is very good,' said another devotee. On Sunday, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha announced that the ongoing Amarnath Yatra has surpassed the 2-lakh mark, with devotees continuing to throng the holy cave shrine. In a post on X, LG Sinha expressed his joy, stating, 'With Baba Amarnath Ji's blessings, the holy pilgrimage has crossed the 2 lakh mark today. This is a sacred journey of a lifetime, and I welcome all the devotees to discover and experience the divinity. Har Har Mahadev!' The 38-day annual Amarnath pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine in south Kashmir began on July 3 and will conclude on August 9. The pilgrimage is taking place simultaneously via both the Pahalgam route (Anantnag district) and the Baltal route (Ganderbal district). Amarnath Yatra is an annual pilgrimage to the Amarnath cave, where devotees pay homage to an ice stalagmite believed to be the lingam of Lord Shiva. The ice stalagmite forms every year during the summer months and reaches its maximum size in July and August, when thousands of Hindu devotees make an annual pilgrimage to the cave. The Indian Army has launched 'Operation SHIVA 2025' in close coordination with the Civil Administration and Central Armed Police Forces (CAPFs) to ensure the smooth and secure conduct of the Amarnath Yatra. This annual high-tempo operation aims to provide a robust security architecture along both the Northern and Southern Yatra routes, particularly in light of the heightened threat from Pakistan-backed proxies in the aftermath of Operation Sindoor. As part of this year's enhanced security framework, over 8,500 troops have been deployed, supported by a wide array of technological and operational resources. A dynamic counter-terrorism grid, prophylactic security deployment, and corridor protection measures have been instituted. Comprehensive assistance to civil authorities is also being provided, particularly in disaster management and emergency response. The Indian Army's efforts include the installation of a Counter-UAS grid with more than 50 C-UAS and EW systems each to neutralise drone threats. (ANI)
