Amarnath Yatra Temporarily Suspended On Both Routes Due to Heavy Rain

The weather department has forecast generally cloudy weather on both the routes with the possibility of light rain and thundershowers during the day.

Devotees amid rain at Baltal during the annual Amarnath Yatra, in Ganderbal district (Image: PTI)

Source : PTI

As a precautionary measure due to heavy rainfall, the Amarnath Yatra was temporarily suspended on both routes to the holy cave on Saturday. There has been intermittent heavy rainfall on both routes to Amarnath shrine -- from north Kashmir's Baltal base camp and from south Kashmir's Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp -- since Friday night.

The decision to temporarily halt the yatra was taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the pilgrims, news agency PTI reported quoting officials. 

The weather department has forecast generally cloudy weather on both the routes with the possibility of light rain and thundershowers during the day, according to news agency IANS.

The Amarnath Yatra commenced on June 29 and is scheduled to conclude on August 19.

The pilgrims who take the Pahalgam route, take four days to reach the cave shrine, while those who prefer the shorter Baltal route return to base camp on the same day after ‘darshan’ inside the cave.

Notably, pilgrims from the Baltal base camp have to cover a 14 km-long track to the cave shrine on foot or on ponies, while those using the traditional Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camp have to cover 48 km which takes four days (one-way).

The Pahalgam-cave shrine axis involves Pahalgam to Chandanwari (24 kms), Chandanwari to Sheshnag (13 kms), Sheshnag to Panchtarni (5 kms) and Panchtarni to Cave Shrine (6 kms).

The number of devotees who have visited the 3,800-metre-high cave shrine and had 'darshan' of the naturally formed ice lingam has reportedly crossed 1.50 lakh. Last year over 4.5 lakh pilgrims offered prayers at the cave shrine.

Devotees believe that the ice stalagmite structure represents the powers of Lord Shiva.  

Meanwhile, security arrangement has been implemented along the 300 km Jammu-Srinagar highway, at the twin Yatra routes, at the two base camps and at the cave shrine to ensure a smooth and incident-free pilgrimage.