Amarnath yatra suspended from both Baltal, Pahalgam routes

Srinagar, June 11 (UNI) The Amarnath pilgrimage was suspended from both Baltal and Pahalgam routes this afternoon due to heavy snowfall and incessant rains at several places along the track to the holy cave shrine, officials said.

Meanwhile, well-placed sources told UNI that Inspector General of Police (IGP), Kashmir, S M Sahai, has sent a message to the Police Control Room (PCR), Jammu, saying no pilgrim should be allowed to move from the winter capital for the holy cave shrine of Amarnath tomorrow in view of inclement weather in the entire Valley.

Several upper reaches in Kashmir, particularly areas leading to the holy cave shrine, have recorded heavy snowfall today.

The officials said the two-month-long Amarnath pilgrimage started as per schedule from the Baltal route this morning amid extraordinary security arrangements as devotees in large number proceeded on the holy journey.

However, the authorities early this morning announced that the pilgrimage has been suspended from the traditional Pahalgam route after heavy snowfall was recorded at Panchtarni and Sheshnag, the two halting points, since last night.

Hours after, the pilgrimage was suspended from Baltal route as well following heavy snowfall and incessant rains at Sangam Top.

The official said all the devotees were safe and asserted that they were regularly monitoring the weather situation along both the routes and would accordingly take a decision on resuming the yatra, which comes to an end on Raksha Bandhan Day on August 9.

A large number of devotees had already started arriving here for their onward journey to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath situated on the narrow openings between the mountains of Lidder valley at a height of 3,888 mt in south Kashmir.

The Amarnath Cave is one of the twelve holiest shrines dedicated to Lord Shiva, collectively known as 'Jyotirlingas'.

More than 5,00,000 pilgrims are expected to visit the holy cave shrine this year. Last year, the pilgrimage remained incident-free and more than four lakh devotees had a glimpse of the 'ice Shivalingam' (phallic symbol of Lord Shiva).

The lingam is formed naturally with an ice stalagmite, which waxes and wanes with the moon.

The first batch of 606 pilgrims -- 328 men, 127 women, 24 children and 127 'sants' -- arrived at Baltal and Pahalgam base camps from Jammu yesterday.

Meanwhile, the second batch of 1347 devotees -- 906 men, 233 women, 70 children and 138 'sants' -- reached the two base camps from Jammu this evening.

Security forces have been put on high alert along the 300-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and on routes to the holy cave shrine from Baltal and Pahalgam areas.

Besides the Jammu and Kashmir X X X Eds here picking up from para eight of DR 14 (RELIGION-KASHMIR-AMARNATH).

UNI AG LR PM1922