Amarnath Yatra Resumes From Pahalgam, Baltal As Weather Improves

The CRPF’s Special DG called the yatra a big challenge and said top security measures had been put in place.

• Amarnath Yatra resumed on Friday after being suspended for a few hours due to heavy rains
  
• More than 500 pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine of Amarnath on the first day
  
• The annual Amarnath Yatra began on Wednesday from the Jammu base camp
  
• The government has mobilised a security blanket of over 35,000 to 40,000 troops, including the police, the Army, the BSF and the CRPF
  
• This year’s yatra will be eight days shorter than last year’s 48 days and will conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on 7 August
  

Amarnath Yatra Resumes from Pahalgam and Baltal

Amarnath yatra resumed from Pahalgam and Baltal routes after being suspended for a few hours on Friday due to heavy rains around the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.

“The yatra has resumed from both the routes in view of the improvement in the weather condition,” an official of the SASB told PTI.

The authorities had suspended the yatra early Friday morning due to heavy rainfall around the 3880-metre high shrine.

Amarnath Yatra Suspended From Two Routes

The Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board on Friday announced that Amarnath Yatra has been suspended from twin routes of Pahalgam, Baltal due to heavy rains.

Over 500 Pay Obeisance at Amarnath

More than 500 pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine of Amarnath while the second batch of 2,481 pilgrims left from Jammu for the twin base- camps of the yatra, amid tight security.

The pilgrims, comprising 1,638 males, 663 females and 180 sages, left for the base-camps in 66 vehicles, a police officer said.

The pilgrims are being escorted by Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) vehicles, the officer said.

Meanwhile, another police official said, "The yatra began early this morning from both the routes. So far more than 500 pilgrims have paid obeisance at the cave shrine housing the naturally formed ice-lingam."

This Year's Yatra to Be Eight Days Shorter

This year, the yatra will be eight days shorter than last year's 48 days and will conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on 7 August.

Situated in a narrow gorge at the farther end of Lidder Valley, Amarnath shrine stands at 3,888 metres, 46 km from Pahalgam and 14 km from Baltal.

The state police’s Mountain Rescue Teams (MRTs) along with rescue teams of various security forces have been operationalised along with fire fighting teams at pre-determined points.

(With inputs from PTI.)