Early Times Report
Srinagar, Aug 1: The Amarnath Yatra was temporarily suspended from both Pahalgam and Baltal routes due to inclement weather on Monday, officials said. However, 140 pilgrims took the helicopter from Baltal to pay obeisance at the Himalayan shrine till 10 am. They said no pilgrim will be allowed to proceed from Nunwan Pahalgam base camp in south Kashmir and halting points of Chandanwari and Panjtarni.
It was still raining at several places on the route and making the road condition slippery,? one of the official said.
Keeping in view the inclement conditions the authorities decided to suspend the yatra until the weather improves, he added. No pilgrim was allowed to proceed on foot or ponies from shortest Baltal route via Dumail to the holy cave as well.
Officials said, it was raining throughout the night and still drizzling on the track and road has become slippery from Baltal to Amarnath cave shrine.
Kashmir Weather, an independent weather observatory, forecast possibility of rain showers till afternoon, improvement afterwards.
So far more than 2, 94,046 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave shrine till Sunday evening since the pilgrimage commenced on June 30. |
