Now Reading: Amarnath Yatra suspended from Jammu, Baltal amid bad weather
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Amarnath Yatra suspended from Jammu, Baltal amid bad weather
The Shri Amarnath Yatra has been suspended from both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes from August 9 due to adverse weather forecasts and the need for track repairs, officials said. The Border…
The Story in Brief
The Shri Amarnath Yatra has been suspended from both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes from August 9 due to adverse weather forecasts and the need for track repairs, officials said. The Border Roads Organisation is undertaking the repair work on vulnerable stretches damaged by recent rains. No fresh pilgrim convoys were allowed to leave the Jammu base camp on Saturday and Sunday.
More than 4.8 lakh pilgrims have performed the pilgrimage since July 3, the highest number since 2012, according to the divisional commissioner. The yatra was previously suspended for six days in July. The holy mace, Chari Mubarak, will proceed via the traditional Pahalgam route and mark the yatra's culmination on August 28. Pilgrims who had already completed darshan are being allowed to return to Jammu, with 588 leaving Baltal in 53 vehicles on Sunday.
The Indian Opinion
The suspension of the Amarnath Yatra for track repair is prudent, but the narrative that the government is overreacting ignores the IMD's forecast of heavy rain and the actual damage to vulnerable stretches. Critics who cry disruption should note that 4.8 lakh pilgrims already performed darshan this season, the highest since 2012. The real test is whether the BRO can finish repairs before August 28, when the Chari Mubarak procession concludes.
Sources (2): greaterkashmir.com, hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the 2 sources linked above.
Updated: this story now draws on 2 sources.
