Amarnath Yatra resumes from Pahalgam route, after being halted due to Kashmir violence.

Amarnath Yatra resumes from Pahalgam route after Jihadi violence erupted Pilgrimage in Kashmir valley, fresh batch of pilgrims depart on Saturday. On Sunday, 4,510 offered prayers inside the cave shrine.

Rishi Kak | HENB |  Jammu | July 17, 2016:: Amid tight security, a fresh batch of 1,755 pilgrims on Sunday left from here for the cave shrine of Amarnath in the south Kashmir Himalayas.

“A fresh batch of 1755 pilgrims, including 1422 males and 333 females in 52 vehicles left the Jammu base camp towards Kashmir on Sunday morning to perform the pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine,” Deputy Commissioner of Jammu Simrandeep Singh said.

The Amarnath Yatra which was suspended for the second time in less than a week in the wake of violence in Kashmir after clashes between protestors and security forces, resumed on Saturday.

On Sunday, 4,510 offered prayers inside the cave shrine.

Though Kashmir is still tense over terrorist Burhan Wani’s killing, curfew continues; 41 dead so far, the Amarnath yatra takes its routes with the high tenacity of the Hindu pilgrimages defying the Jihadi threats.

An official of Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) that manages the affairs of the pilgrimage told IANS “Yatra through the traditional Pahalgam route has been resumed today (Monday).”

“Due to the law and order situation in the Valley, the Yatra continued only via north Kashmir’s Baltal route only following the July 9 aftermath.”

“Since the Yatra started on July 2, so far 1,72,851 pilgrims have visited the cave shrine,” the official added.

There were also reports of casualties, 12 pilgrims died on the way due to natural causes.

The Yatra was first suspended on July 9 following the killing of top Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani. It was again suspended on 14 July.

39 persons including a cop have been killed while 3,160 persons including 1,500 security force personnel have been injured.

The 48-day long Yatra will end on August 17 coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals.

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__Input from IANS & PTI.