Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Aug 14: The Amarnath yatra remained suspended from both Baltal and Chandanwari tracks today due to heavy down pour.
According to Navin K Choudhary, Chief Executive Officer of Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) forward movement of yatris from both Baltal and Nunwan -Pahalgam base camps was suspended today due to heavy down pour for the entire day.
He said the yatra has been suspended in the interest and safety of pilgrims. He said in case the weather improved by tomorrow the yatra will be allowed to proceed towards holy cave from both the tracks.
An official spokesman said that heavy rains lashed the holy cave area since last evening. However, 17 pilgrims who had managed to reach the holy cave late last night performed darshan today, spokesman added.
Meanwhile a fresh batch of 97 pilgrims left for holy cave from Bhagwati Nagar Jammu Yatra Niwas under tight security arrangements in four vehicles this morning. They included 88 male, eight female and one child.
The holy mace (Chhari Mubarak) of Swami Amarnath Ji will leave for cave shrine on August 16 from Dashnami Akhara Srinagar. Led by custodian of the Chhari Mubarak, Mahant Deepender Giri Ji Maharaj, it will pay obeisance and perform pooja at Durga Nag temple Srinagar, Shiv temples of Pampore, Awantipora, Bijbehara, Nagbal Anantnag, Surya Temple Mattan, Shiv Temple Ganeshpora and Mamleshwar temple Pahalgam.
The holy mace after two days halt at Pahalgam will leave for Chandanwari on August 18. It will reach cave shrine situated at an altitude of 14,000 feet in deep Himalyas in South Kashmir district of Anantnag on Sawan Purnima coinciding the festival of Raksha Bandhan on August 21. Next day it will start return journey towards Dashnami Akhara via Chandanwari track marking the culminatioan of 55 day long annual Amarnath pilgrimage.
It may be recalled that the annual Amarnath yatra started on June 28 from both Baltal and Chandwanwari tracks.
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