The annual Amarnath pilgrimage to the Himalayan cave shrine in south Kashmir has been suspended, with the government taking up “maintenance works of urgent nature” on both routes to the shrine “following heavy rain”.
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Divisional Commissioner Kashmir V K Bhiduri said the annual pilgrimage, scheduled to end on August 9, has been suspended along both the Sonamarg-Baltal and Pahalgam-Chandwanri routes.
“There have been recent heavy rains in the Shri Amarnathji Yatra area on both Pahalgam and Baltal axis. Maintenance works of urgent nature are required to be carried out…,” Divisional Commissioner Bhiduri said in a statement.
He said that the “repair and maintenance works are already being carried out” on the Pahalgam route of the Yatra. “Due to the recent heavy rain, repair and maintenance works are required to be undertaken on the Baltal Axis of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra route. In the interest of safety of the yatris, no yatra will be allowed on August 3 from the Baltal route also. Further updates will be issued in due course of time,” he said.
Officials said yatra convoys from Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar towards the Valley have been stopped.
Bhiduri said more than 4.05 lakh yatris “have paid obeisance at the Holy Cave of Shri Amarnathji this year”.
