Amarnath Yatra temporarily suspended due to heavy rain

Number of devotees who have visited the 3,800-m-high cave shrine and had 'darshan' of the naturally formed ice lingam has crossed 1.50 lakh

Srinagar: The Amarnath Yatra was temporarily suspended on both routes to the cave shrine on Saturday as a precautionary measure due to heavy rainfall, officials said.

Intermittent heavy rainfall has been seen along the Baltal and Pahalgam routes since Friday night, they said.

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The decision to temporarily suspend the yatra was taken as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of the pilgrims, the officials added.

The number of devotees who have visited the 3,800-metre-high cave shrine and had ‘darshan’ of the naturally formed ice lingam has crossed 1.50 lakh.

The Amarnath Yatra began on June 29 from the twin tracks — the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14-km shorter but steeper Baltal route in Ganderbal — and will culminate on August 19.

More than 4.5 lakh pilgrims offered prayers at the cave shrine last year.