The annual Amarnath pilgrimage was today suspended for the second time in a week due to heavy rains, officials said.
The yatra was temporarily suspended this afternoon after fresh spell of rains rendered the twin routes -- the traditional Pahalgam and the shortest Baltal -- to the 3,880 metre high cave shrine "unsafe", they said.
Heavy overnight rains left the track slippery causing a three-hour delay in departure of the yatris from the base camps of Nunwan along 46 kms Pahalgam route in Anantnag and 16 kms Baltal route in Ganderbal district this morning.
Around 2,700 yatris were allowed to move from Nunwan base camp at 9:30 am against the scheduled time of 6 am but were stopped at Sheshnag halting point after the rains started afresh.
Similarly, 1,108 pilgrims left Baltal base camp around 11 am after several hours delay, but they were also stopped near Sangam as a precautionary measure, the officials said.
The yatra which started on July 1 remained suspended for two days on July 22 and 23 due to inclement weather. So far, over 3.50 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave shrine, housing the naturally formed ice-shiv lingam.
The authorities said they were monitoring the weather and would resume the yatra when it is conducive.
{{/usCountry}}The authorities said they were monitoring the weather and would resume the yatra when it is conducive.
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