Ganderbal, July 23, KNT: Even after the cancellation of annual Amarnath Yatra pilgrimage, certain departments and langars are still functioning at Baltal area of Sonmarg.
Baltal is a camping ground for Amarnath pilgrims, 15 km’s North of Sonamarg on the Sind River. Baltal provides a shorter high-altitude alternate route to the holy cave of Amarnath.
Sources told news agency KNT that following the government decision to cancel the Yatra this year due to Coronavirus pandemic, authorities today closed down a free langar (kitchen) established at Baltal by ‘Om Namah Shivaya Mandal’ of jhalandhar Punjab. The managers of the Langar closed it down and returned back to the native State.
Sources however, added that other Departments as well as a few langers are still functioning at Baltal. Even employees associated with different departments are still present at Baltal and haven’t been called back yet.
“Since annual pilgrimage has been cancelled, everything will be closed at Baltal in one or two days,” an official told KNT.
