Amarnath yatra suspended from Pahalgam due to rains

Srinagar, Aug 5: The Amarnath pilgrimage was today suspended from the traditional Pahalgam route following heavy rains, which made the 48 km track slippery and dangerous.

However, pilgrimage from shortest Baltal route was going on but the helicopter service was suspended due to bad weather.

Official sources told UNI that pilgrimage was suspended as heavy overnight rains made the track dangerous and slippery.

All the pilgrims at different halting points are safe, they said adding Yatris returning back after 'darshan' will be allowed to come down.

The Yatra will be resumed only when the weather improves, they said adding the step was taken to avoid any accident.

They said pilgrims from 14-km-long shortest route were allowed to proceed towards the cave shrine this morning. A number of pilgrims also returned back to base camp after darshan.

Sources said the helicopter service between Baltal to Cave shrine has been suspended because of poor visibility due to cloudy weather.

However, the service will be resumed if weather improves, they said.

Meanwhile, hundreds of devotees, including a number of Sadhus joined the prayers at Pahalgam where the holy Mace of Lord Shiva is resting since last evening.

The mace was taken there, under tight security arrangements, by Mahant Deepender Giri from Dashnami Akhara, Srinagar for the last phase of the two-month-long pilgrimage which started on July 11.

Tomorrow morning Mahant Giri, accompanied by sadhus and other pilgrims, will take the mace to second halting point at Chandanwari, Sheshnag and Panjtherni before leaving for the final 'darshan' on August 9, the Sharavan Purnima( Rakshabandan Day).

The Mace will return to base camp Pahalgam same evening where pooja will be performed before bringing it back to Srinagar, Mahanat Giri, the custodian of the Mace told mediapersons here shortly before leaving for Pahalgam.

Official sources said about 2.90 lakh pilgrims have so far had the 'darshan' of the holy icelingam in the cave shrine despite threat perception. However, the number of pilgrims this time is very less as compared to last year when more than 4.5 lakh pilgrims undertook the pilgrimage.

About 45 pilgrims from different parts of the country have died due to various reasons since the start of the pilgrimage. Two local labourers were also killed during the pilgrimage.

UNI