Braving all odds, ITBP men shield Amarnath yatris
   Date :07-Jul-2019

 
BALTAL , (J&K)
 
INDO-TIBETAN Border Police (ITBP) personnel were seen helping Amarnath Yatra pilgrims cross a rocky bridge at the foot of a waterfall in Baltal with shields in their hands. A videoofthesamewas shared by the ITBP on Twitter, wherein the personnel can be seen guarding yatris against shootings tones on a footbridge from a high altitude waterfall point on Baltal route of Amarnath Yatra. The yatriswereheardcheeringforthe ITBP personnel and raising slogans of Jai Hind, Jai Bharat and ITBP zindabad (long live ITBP).
 
Speaking to ANI,one of the pilgrims said,“It is not easy for someone to come forward to help,risking their lives at stake. We are really thankful to ITBP personnel who have been helping us on routes.” After the video was widely circulated, Twitter verse heaped praises on the ITBP personnel for their selfless service. “This is the reason because of which we respect the Indian Army.Theyare always sacrificing their lives to protect our life,” a Twitter user wrote.
 
The 46-day-long yatra began on July 1, the day of Masik Shivratri, and will conclude on August 15, the day of Shravan Purnima. Situated at an altitude of 3,888 m, the Amarnath cave is considered as one ofthe holiest shrines for Hindus. TheYatra takes place from the traditional 36-km Pahalgam track in Anantnag district and 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The holy cave remains open during this period and it attracts lakhs of pilgrims every year.
 
12 hurt as two buses on way to cave collide
 
SRINAGAR
 
A DOZEN pilgrims were injured on Saturday aftertwo buses which were on the way to a base camp for the AmarnathYatra rammed into each other in Jammu and Kashmir’s Kulgam district, police said. The incident took place at Turki-Tashlow near Wanpoh on Srinagar-Jammu national highway. The driver of one of the buses lost control of the vehicle due to brake failure andrammedintootherwhich was stationary, a police officialsaid.The buses were headed to the Baltal base camp in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district, he added.