Srinagar, Aug 12: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha performed the 'samapan pooja' of the annual Amarnath Yatra at Raj Bhawan on Friday (Aug 12) morning. Sinha prayed for peace, progress and prosperity of the people amid chanting of religious hymns and mantras.
He said, "I truly admire and appreciate the selfless contribution of all stakeholders and citizens for making this difficult Yatra hassle-free for pilgrims." The Yatra began on Jun 29, from Jammu amid tight security arrangements made by the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) along with the army and the local police.
After a cloudburst incident, Amarnath Yatra, was partially suspended and the pilgrims were asked to stop at the Baltal Base Camp. It resumed on Jul 11 from the Nunwan Pahalgam side. Last month, Minister of State for Home (MoS) Nityanand Rai had informed Lok Sabha Sabha that at least 15 people lost their lives due to flash flood, but no individual has been reported missing during the Amarnath Yatra in Jul 2022.
Replying to a query of BJP MP Neeraj Shekhar on the number of pilgrims who lost their lives due to flash floods during the Amarnath Yatra in Jul 2022, MoS Rai informed, "As per information provided by Jammu and Kashmir government, 15 persons lost their lives due to flash flood, but no person has been reported missing." Rai further said that government agencies like National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), Army, Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) and UT government officials were deployed for search operations, rescue and relief of pilgrims.