Amarnath Yatra Suspended on Baltal Route Due to Heavy Rain, Track Repair Work

Srinagar, Jul 31: The annual Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra was suspended from the Baltal route on Friday following adverse weather conditions and ongoing repair work on the pilgrimage track, officials said. The Pahalgam route had already been closed earlier to facilitate restoration work, leaving both routes temporarily inaccessible to pilgrims. Officials said heavy rainfall lashed the Baltal area on Thursday night, triggering a minor flash flood at one location. However, no casualties or damage to property were reported. As a precautionary measure, authorities did not allow any pilgrims to proceed towards the holy cave shrine from the Baltal base camp on Friday. Repair and restoration work on the damaged track is currently underway. The administration is closely monitoring weather conditions and the condition of the route before taking a decision on resuming the pilgrimage. The annual Amarnath Yatra commenced on July 3, and nearly 4.5 lakh pilgrims have so far offered prayers at the holy cave shrine, which houses the naturally formed ice Shivling. Authorities said further updates regarding the resumption of the yatra will be issued after an assessment of the weather and track conditions.