Amarnath Yatra suspended on Baltal route due to inclement weather

The yatra on Phalgam route, however, is unaffected and is going on as per schedule.

Jammu, July 24: The holy annual Amarnath Yatra has been suspended on Baltal route due to inclement weather conditions. The route of Amarnath Yatra from Baltal has become slippery and muddy due to continuous rain last night.

There could be landslides and also poosibilities of boulders falling on the yatris because of which the yatra on Baltal route suspended. The yatra on Phalgam route, however, is unaffected and is going on as pes schedule.

A fresh batch of over 1,200 pilgrims, including 300 women and 100 sadhus, left the base camp for the cave-shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir on Monday.

Pilgrims cross mountain trails during their religious journey to the Amarnath cave temple at Pahalgam in Anantnag district

On June 28, Amarnath Yatra has been stalled due to heavy rainfall in Baltal. Except for the vagaries of weather due to which four pilgrims were killed by a landslide on the Baltal cave shrine route, the yatra has been proceeding smoothly.

Tortuous path to reach holy shrine

The 60-day long annual yatra to the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in South Kashmir Himalayas commenced on June 27. This year's yatra will be longer by 20 days against last year's 40 days. The yatra is scheduled to end on August 26 coinciding with Shravan Purnima festival.

Security personnel look on as a batch of pilgrims are on their way towards the holy cave shrine of Amarnath near Sheshnag Lake

On June 25 landslide at Gangroo near Ramsu along the 260-km long Jammu-Srinagar national highway - the only all-weather road connecting Kashmir with rest of the country, left hundreds of vehicles, including the convoy carrying Amarnath pilgrims, stranded.

Security personnel look on as a batch of pilgrims are on their way towards the holy cave shrine of Amarnath

Over two lakh pilgrims have registered for the annual pilgrimage to the 3,880-metre high cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas. Last year, over 2.6 lakh people registered for the annual pilgrimage.

Images Courtesy - PTI