Amarnath yatra remains suspended, thousands of pilgrims stranded

Srinagar, Aug 7 (UNI) About three thousand Amarnath pilgrims remained stranded at different halting stations, including two base camps of Pahalgam and Baltal, as the yatra remained suspended for the second consecutive day due to heavy rains.

Meanwhile, the upper reaches in the Kashmir valley, including cave periphery and Sonmarg, experienced light snowfall since early this morning, resulting in considerable drop in the temperature.

However, the helicopter service was operating from Baltal to cave shrine. Notwithstanding the complete melting of Shivalingam and other controversies, more than 2,45,000 pilgrims from different parts of the country and abroad have visited the shrine so far.

Thirty five yatris died since the commencement of the two-month-long annual pilgrimage.

An official of the yatra control room set up at Baltal, the shortest route to cave shrine, told UNI over phone that it rains continued since yesterday in the entire 13-km-long track.

The track is slippery and there is possibility of landslides, he said adding that no fresh yatri was allowed from the Baltal base camp for cave shrine.

He said 1249 pilgrims from different parts of the country, including sadhus, women and children, are at base camp, waiting to leave the holy cave.

The yatris were safe and were being provided all facilities, he said adding those stranded at different halting points on the track had taken shelter in the security force camps.

The yatris would be allowed to move towards their respective destinations once the weather improved and track became safe for undertaking foot journey, he said.

A report from cave said there was considerable drop in the temperature after higher reaches experienced light snowfall and cave and its immediate periphery had rains since yesterday.

Besides 150 CRPF personnel, there are about 100 yatris at the cave shrine, the report said.

Similarly, the yatra from the traditional Pahalgam route also remained suspended because of heavy rains since yesterday, making the 45-km-long track risky.

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