Amarnath Yatra suspended from Baltal Axis following heavy rains

Srinagar: Amarnath yatra was suspended on Sunday as a precautionary measure due to heavy rains on the twin sides of the track to the holy cave shrine in the Kashmir Himalayas, officials said.
In the interest of the safety of the yatris, no Yatra will be allowed on Monday from the Baltal route also”, the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said.
The Amarnath Yatra was suspended from the traditional NunWan Pahalgam side in south Kashmir on August 6 following heavy rains that caused damage to the route.
Bidhuri said further updates will be issued in due course of time.
“There have been heavy rains in Shri Amarnathji Yatra area from both Pahalgam and Baltal axis on Sunday”, he said and added “maintenance works of urgent nature are required to be carried out on the Baltal Axis of Shri Amarnathji Yatra following this heavy rainfall”.
He said due to the heavy rains on Sunday, urgent repair and maintenance works are required to be undertaken on the Baltal Axis of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra route.
The requisite repair and maintenance works are already being carried out on Pahalgam route of the Yatra.
The annual 52-day-long Amarnath yatra began on June 29 from the twin routes of Baltal in Ganderbal district and Nunwan Pahalgam in south Kashmir and will culminate on August 19 on the Raksha Bandhan day.
More than 5 lakh pilgrims have so far paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine of Amarnath in the Kashmir Himalayas.
UNI