Bad weather forces Amarnath yatra suspension

The Amarnath yatra was suspended today due to inclement weather conditions in the south Kashmir Himalayas, official sources said in Jammu.

The authorities have decided not to allow the fresh batch of pilgrims to proceed towards the cave shrine from the base camp at MAM Stadium, the sources said.

So far, 1,610 yatris have left from Jammu on their onward journey via Pahalgam and Baltal routes since the commencement of the pilgrimate on July 14.

The yatra, which was stopped for a few hours due to inclement weather on Sunday evening, was allowed to resume yesterday.

Meanwhile, deputy inspecetor general of police (Doda-Udhampur range), Satveer Gupta, reviewed the security arrangements for Amarnath yatra at different poins on the national highway from Udhampur to Jawahar Tunnel sector yesterday.

Sector officers have been appointed to strengthen security arrangements, and the authorities have been requested to provide more officers of the rank of deputy superintendent of police to monitor the arrangements, Gupta told PTI at Banihal.

Gupta said volunteers along the national highway have set up a number of langars, but only a few authorised ones were being provided police security.

The police, army, Border Security Force, and traffic departments were coordinating to provide security to the Amarnath yatra pilgrims, Gupta said.