The Amarnath Yatra, a pilgrimage to the sacred Amarnath cave shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, has been suspended on both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes due to heavy rainfall.
The Baltal route, one of the two main routes to the shrine, was closed on Sunday following heavy rainfall. The decision to suspend the yatra on this route was made due to the need for urgent repairs and maintenance work. Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, V K Bhiduri, stated that the heavy rains necessitated the closure to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.
The Pahalgam route, the other major access route, was closed earlier this week for maintenance work. The closure of both routes has effectively halted the Amarnath Yatra.
The yatra commenced on June 29 and is scheduled to conclude on August 19. Over 5.10 lakh pilgrims have already visited the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine this year, paying obeisance to Lord Shiva.
Authorities have stated that further updates on the reopening of the routes will be issued in due course. The decision to reopen will be contingent upon the completion of necessary repairs and the assessment of weather conditions.
