Amarnath yatra suspended temporarily

SRINAGAR: The Amarnath yatra was temporarily suspended today following rains in the Kashmir valley The yatra was suspended as heavy rains lashed the valley since last night, rendering the 46-km Pahalgam and 16-km shorter Baltal routes to the shrine slippery, a spokesman of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board said.

No pilgrim was stranded on the routes, he said, adding the pilgrims on way to the cave shrine have been asked to remain in the shelter sheds set up at several halting stations enroute to the shrine till the weather improves. Chopper service was operating and has made three sorties so far, the spokesman said.

Earlier in the day, a fresh batch of 547 pilgrims left for the shrine from Jammu despite rains in the region. The batch, comprising 229 men, 62 women, one children and 255 sadhus, left from Mam stadium, officials said. Escorted by security personnel, the devotees left in 18 vehicles.