The Amarnath Yatra was suspended on a temporary basis on Friday due to rain in several parts of Kashmir. According to the officials, the yatra has been suspended on both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes. "The yatra has been suspended, and no pilgrim is allowed to proceed towards the cave this morning," the officials said.
Heavy rains started on Friday morning, due to which the yatra of the pilgrims was temporarily suspended, they said. According to officials, the pilgrims have been put up at Baltal and Noonwan base camps. They said the yatra would be resumed as soon as the weather improves. Earlier, a batch of over 7,000 pilgrims left for the Amarnath Yatra from the base camp in Jammu at around 4.45 am, officials said.
43,833 pilgrims have gone for Amarnath Yatra so far
The pilgrims had proceeded towards the valley from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in 247 vehicles amid tight security arrangements here. According to officials, a convoy of 153 vehicles carrying 4,600 pilgrims was going to Pahalgam, while another convoy of 94 vehicles carrying 2,410 pilgrims left for Baltal base camp at 4.45 am. Since the commencement of the Amarnath Yatra on June 30 this year, a total of 43,833 pilgrims have left for the valley from the Jammu base camp. According to officials, the number of pilgrims has crossed 84,000.
Integrated Command and Control Center monitoring the Yatra
The 62-day annual pilgrimage to the cave shrine, located at an altitude of 3,888 meters in the south Kashmir Himalayas, began from both routes at Pahalgam in Anantnag district and Baltal in Ganderbal district. This journey is going to end on 31 August. The entire journey is being monitored by the Integrated Command and Control Center (ICCC). All departments monitor from ICCC and send information to their staff to meet the needs of pilgrims.