Amarnath Yatra resumes after day-long suspension due to heavy rains, landslide

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The annual Amarnath Yatra resumed on Friday after being suspended for a day due to heavy rainfall and landslides in various parts of Kashmir, news agency PTI reported.

A fresh batch of pilgrims began their journey toward the sacred cave shrine from the Nunwan (Pahalgam) and Baltal base camps early in the morning.

The yatra had been halted on Thursday when continuous downpours caused landslides and after a woman was killed by a shooting stone along the Baltal route of the yatra in Ganderbal district, NDTV reported.

The landslide also injured at least three people and swept away several pilgrims. Fortunately, all those affected were rescued promptly.

Officials stated that due to the damage caused by the rain, restoration work was necessary along both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) quickly deployed workers and machinery to clear the debris and repair the tracks to ensure the safety of the pilgrims. The yatra resumed from both base camps on July 18.

Since the pilgrimage began on July 3, over 2.5 lakh devotees have visited the Amarnath cave shrine, which sits at an altitude of around 14,000 feet. The 38-day yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 9.