AMARNATH YATRA RESUMES

JAMMU: After remaining suspended for a day, the yatra to the cave shrine of Amarnath in south Kashmir Himalayas resumed from Bhagwati Nagar Base camp in Jammu on Sunday, after improvement in weather and road condition on Jammu-Srinagar national highway.

Meanwhile, fourth batch of 6,877 pilgrims, including 1,429 women and 250 priests, left from Jammu base camp at around 3am in 229 vehicles under tight security arrangements.

Police said around 3.10am a batch comprising of 2,790 pilgrims bound for the Baltal base camp left in a convoy of 99 vehicles escorted by the security forces.

While a batch of 4,087 pilgrims bound for the Pahalgam base camp left at 3.50 am in another escorted convoy of 130 vehicles.

The annual pilgrimage also resumed on both Pahalgam and Baltal routes on Sunday morning

Moreover, the met department has predicted scattered rainfall in next couple of days.

Keeping in view the safety of yatris, the yatra was suspended on Saturday because of landslides, slippery tracks and shooting stones caused by incessant rainfall.

The yatra was suspended on both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes and only 587 pilgrims were able to pay obeisance at the holy cave shrine using helicopter services on Saturday.

The incessant rain during the weekend had triggered landslides and shooting stones at multiple locations the highway. However, the restoration work throughout Friday and Saturday made the highway worthy for traffic on Sunday, officials said.