Amarnath yatra deferred due to bad weather

By Staff
|
Google Oneindia News

Jammu, June 30: The Jammu and Kashmir government today decided not to give the official go-ahead to the annual two-month-long Amarnath pilgrimage even tomorrow, following incessant rains and bad weather in the Valley.

The yatra was scheduled to start from both Pahalgam and Baltal routes on 'Vrat Purnima' today. However, due to inclement weather, it was suspended this morning.

Minister for Health and Medical Education Mangat Ram Sharma, after taking stock of 'yatra' preparations, said the pilgrimage would not start until the weather improved.

Mr Sharma, however, regretted inconvenience to about 1,500 pilgrims who had taken shelter in 'yatra' base camps at Jammu.

''We have made all arrangements of boarding, lodging and transportation for pilgrims today,'' he asserted.

Subject to weather conditions, the pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas was scheduled to commence simultaneously from both Pahalgam and Baltal routes on 'Vrat Purnima' from tomorrow to end on 'Shravan Purnima' on August 28, the 'Raksha Bandhan' day.

Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) spokesperson Madan Mantoo said, ''It is raining heavily in Kashmir.

And the weather is not good for pilgrimage as of now.'' Heavy rains have triggered landslides at several places en route the cave shrine of Lord Shiva, he informed.

Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt Gen (Retd) S K Sinha, who is also the SASB Chairman, will visit the cave shrine subject to the weather conditions and offer 'Pratham Poojan' (the first prayer) there.

On the pilgrims who had attempted to proceed before the official commencement of the 'yatra', the spokesperson said: ''They have been halted at Nunwan (Pahalgam) and Baltal camps. As soon as the weather improves, they will be allowed to scale the mountains.

However, weathermen forecast that ''normal to moderate'' rains would continue to lash several parts of the state in the wake of timely arrival of the monsoon.

UNI

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