Amarnath pilgrimage remains suspended due to rains and snow

Srinagar, July 14 (UNI) The Amarnath pilgrimage remained suspended for the third consecutive day today from both Pahalgam and Baltal routes following heavy rains and snowfall in the entire belt.

However, Pilgrims stranded at Sheshnag and Panjtherni were allowed to move towards the holy cave this morning, official sources said.

Hundreds of other devotees stranded at various halting points on the route were being looked after by the officials and provided food and blankets.

The sources said heavy rains and snowfall had been recorded at various halting points enroute the holy cave shrine of Amarnath from both the traditional Pahalgam and shorter Baltal tracks since July 11.

''The entire route has become slippery and it will be risky to allow pilgrimage,'' the sources said adding the yatra will be resumed only after the green signal is received from the officials managing the pilgrimage at halting points.

They said while 10 cm snowfall was received at Mahagunas Top, six cm was recorded at Wavbal enroute the holy cave shrine yesterday resulting in considerable drop in the temperature.

This is second time since the commencement of the two-month-long pilgrimage on June 11 the yatra has been suspended due to incessant rains and heavy snowfall.

Hours after it began on June 11, the pilgrimage was suspended for about seven days.

Despite threat perception and the controversy surrounding the formation of the shivlingam, about two lakh piligrim visited the holy cave shrine during the last one month.

During the same period, 31 people died, mainly due to heart attack and other diseases.

UNI BAS AK VV1520