Amarnath Yatra temporarily suspended due to heavy rain

The Amarnath Yatra was temporarily suspended on Saturday on both routes to the cave shrine due to heavy rainfall. Intermittent heavy rains along the Baltal and Pahalgam routes led officials to take precautionary measures to ensure pilgrim safety. Over 1.50 lakh devotees have already visited the 3,800-metre-high cave shrine to see the naturally formed ice lingam. The yatra began on June 29 via the traditional 48-km Nunwan-Pahalgam route and the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route, and will continue until August 19. Last year, more than 4.5 lakh pilgrims offered prayers at the shrine.