Amaranth yatra remains suspended for third day amidst Kishtwar clashes

JAMMU: Amarnath yatra from Jammu remained suspended for the third consecutive day on Monday in the wake of curfew and tense situation triggered by communal clashes in Kishtwar district here, police said.

Along with the pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath, two other yatras — Buddha Amarnath and Machail yatra — were also suspended and efforts were being made to safely shift the stranded pilgrims, police said.

"Amarnath yatra, Buddha Amarnath yatra and Machail yatra have been suspended from Jammu as no fresh batch has been allowed to move to these shrines," police said.

These yatras have been suspended in view of bandh and tense situation triggered by communal clashes in Kishtwar district on Friday in which three people were killed and over 20 others were injured.

Two hundred of the over 500 Machial yatra pilgrims stranded in Gulabgarh area have been safely brought back to Jammu late last night, police said, adding efforts are on to bring back the rest.

250 pilgrims of Amarnath yatra and 75 of Buddha Amarnath yatra have been stranded in Jammu Base camp for past few days.