The weather gods have come in the way of Amarnath yatra leaving several thousands of devotees stranded at two base camps — Baltal and Pahalgam — and other halting places.
The Kashmir Valley has been receiving moderate to heavy rainfalls since Wednesday morning rendering the track to the 12,729 ft. high cave-temple both from traditional Pahalgam and shorter Baltal routes slippery besides there is a threat of avalanches in the snowbound areas particularly at Mahagunus top.
As a precautionary measure, the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) suspended the pilgrimage on both Baltal and Pahalgam sides. No yatri was allowed from Baltal or Nunwan near Pahalgam since Wednesday and those who had already reached Chandanwari, 16 kms from Pahalgam and the starting point of the track, were stopped from treading further on the arduous journey. “Care is being taken also of the devotees stranded at different other halting places,” said an official. However, helicopter services available to the pilgrims from both the routes remained unaffected for most parts of the day on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, a fresh batch of 2,244 pilgrims which left Jammu in a cavalcade of 49 vehicles on Thursday had yet to reach Baltal and Pahalgam.
Though there is no official word available on the delay, reports said that the 294-km Jammu-Srinagar highway has been closed for vehicular traffic due to landslides at Penthal, triggered by heavy rains.