Amarnath Yatra has been suspended from the Pahalgam route due to heavy rains in the area. Just a day ago, the Yatra was suspended from the Baltal route owing to similar weather conditions. The heavy rains in Jammu & Kashmir have led to several landslides in the state because of which the pilgrimage tour has been suspended as a preventive measure.
Reportedly, a flood alert has also been sounded in Kashmir’s Anantnag district after the Jhelum River was found to be flowing above the 21-feet mark. Apart from the suspension of the Amarnath Yatra, the schools in Kashmir division have also been closed for the meantime.
The Jammu Police Control Room informed the public that due to bad weather and the resulting condition of the roads of both Baltal and Pahalgam routes, the Amarnath Yatra is to be suspended for today.
As per the news agency ANI, the batch of pilgrims who started their journey from Bhagwati Nagar base camp via Pahalgam route were stopped at the Tikri base camp. They were given shelter in a big hall at the base camp and were also given food.
It’s been reported that around 500-700 devotees are stranded at the Tikri base camp but they are taken care of. Due to the slippery trek routes and adverse weather, no devotee was allowed to move out of either base camp. Once the weather improves, the decision will be made accordingly. Meanwhile, the MET Department has suggested that the weather is likely to improve by the afternoon.
On Friday, a landslide was observed at the Gangroo along the 260 km long Jammu Srinagar National Highway. Notably, this is the only all-weather road that connects Kashmir with the rest of India. This resulted in hundreds of vehicles carrying the Amarnath devotees being stranded. More than 2 Lakh devotees had registered for the pilgrimage to the 3880 meters high cave shrine of Amarnath in the Himayalas.
