SRINAGAR: A fresh batch of 3,886 pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu early Sunday for the annual Amarnath Yatra after authorities partially restored traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which had remained closed for two days due to heavy rain-triggered damage.
Officials said the 25th batch, comprising pilgrims bound for the Baltal base camp in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, left at 2:52 am in a convoy of 177 vehicles under tight security.
The pilgrimage had remained suspended from Jammu on Saturday after incessant rainfall caused extensive damage to several stretches of the 250-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway between Jhakani in Udhampur and Banihal in Ramban, forcing authorities to halt the movement of Yatra convoys.
The affected stretch near Dewal Bridge in the Samroli area of Udhampur has now been restored for single-lane traffic, allowing the Yatra convoy to resume.
Although restoration work is still underway, officials said light motor vehicles travelling from Jammu have been allowed to use the highway. Traffic from Qazigund towards Jammu will resume after the Amarnath Yatra convoy clears the affected stretch. Heavy motor vehicles will be permitted on the highway on alternate days, according to the traffic police.
In view of the forecast of adverse weather over the next few days, traffic police have advised commuters to check the latest road and traffic status before travelling on the highway.
The 57-day Amarnath Yatra, which began on July 3, is scheduled to conclude on August 28. More than 4.5 lakh pilgrims have offered prayers at the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine in the Kashmir Himalayas so far.
