Rains cause temporary suspension of Amarnath yatra

Jammu, July 20 (ANI): The ongoing annual Amarnath yatra was temporarily suspended this morning due to overnight rainfall around the holy cave.

The rain has resulted tracks leading to holy cave becoming slippery. The helicopter service from both Baltal and Chandanwari is operating as usual.

According to sources, a fresh group of pilgrims, who left the base camp this morning for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on this traditional route, were stopped at Sheshnag because of the slippery track.

The decision to allow the pilgrims to proceed towards the shrine from Sheshnag and other halting stations would depend on the weather.

Over 1.60 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance to the holy cave since the commencement of the two-month-long pilgrimage from July 1.

The Amarnath cave shrine is dedicated to Lord Shiva and the main shrine is claimed to be over 5,000-years-old. (ANI)