Amarnath Yatra suspended from Baltal route due to heavy rains, massive landslides

Owing to inclement monsoon weather, the Amarnath yatra to the cave shrine in south Kashmir was on Friday suspended from the Baltal route, a police official said.

Heavy rainfall in the valley for the past few days caused multiple landslides en route the yatra. Landslides damaged the Kali Mata Track at multiple places, which has forced suspension of the yatra from Baltal route.

"Restoration work is going on but a slight drizzle is hampering restoration work," the official said.

An official of the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) said the yatra was going on through the Pahalgam route.

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The annual pilgrimage to the 3880-metre high cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas began on Thursday and will conclude on 26 August to coincide with the festival of Raksha Bandhan.

(With PTI inputs)