The annual Amarnath Yatra resumed on Thursday afternoon along the Baltal and Pahalgam routes after it was stalled because of heavy rainfall in parts of Jammu and Kashmir, reported PTI.

Authorities first allowed pilgrims to move towards the cave shrine from North Kashmir’s Baltal base camp, reported IANS. A Shri Amarnath Shrine Board spokesperson said 59 pilgrims were allowed to proceed along the Pahalgam route, PTI reported.

Senior Superintendent of Police (Ganderbal) Fayaz Ahmad Lone told ANI that pilgrims were allowed to resume the yatra after weather conditions improved. “For safety, we’re sending [State Disaster Response Force and National Disaster Response Force] teams.

Jammu and Kashmir Governor NN Vohra offered prayers at the shrine on Thursday, reported ANI.

The India Meteorological Department on Wednesday predicted moderate rainfall with thundershowers in Jammu and Kashmir till Thursday. It said some regions in the state will have cloudy weather for at least two days.

Authorities have set up joint control rooms at Pahalgam and Baltal, reported the Greater Kashmir. A weather advisory will be issued every three hours by the Met department. “Yatra control rooms have been established in Nunwan and Baltal base camp and the pilgrims will only be allowed to proceed towards the cave shrine after obtaining the latest weather update from the meteorological stations set up at the base camps,” an unidentified official told the Greater Kashmir.

Over two lakh people have registered to undertake the pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Amarnath, which lies at an altitude of 3,880 metres in South Kashmir. The first batch of over 3,000 pilgrims reached the twin base camps at Baltal and Pahalgam on Wednesday evening. A total of 1,904 pilgrims including 330 women and 30 children are part of the first batch taking the Pahalgam route, PTI reported. The pilgrimage will take place between June 28 and August 26.

Officials said 3,434 pilgrims left Bhagwati Nagar base camp from Jammu for Kashmir on Thursday morning. The second batch is expected to reach the base camps of Nunwan-Pahalgam and Baltal in the Valley by Thursday evening.

Authorities have heightened security measures this year after at least eight people were killed and 17 injured in an attack on a bus carrying Amarnath Yatra pilgrims in July 2017. Around 40,000 security personnel from the Jammu and Kashmir Police, paramilitary, National Disaster Response Force and the Army have been deployed.

Vehicles have been tagged with electromagnetic chips to provide pilgrims with a security blanket. Central Reserve Police Force personnel will sweep the route of the pilgrimage against possible improvised explosive device threats to convoys. A number of CCTV cameras have been set up and drones have been deployed along the route.

“These arrangements are the biggest-ever deployment of the security paraphernalia to ensure protection to the annual yatra that comes in the backdrop of a long and turbulent time of violence in the Kashmir Valley,” an unidentified official told PTI.

Security forces, meanwhile, have launched cordon and search operations in Anantnag, Pulwama and Shopian districts. Clashes broke out at Bellow village in Pulwama during such an operation. A police official told Greater Kashmir that security personnel were pelted with stones and bricks in the area. “The forces responded by firing pellets and tear gas shells,” he added. However, no casualty was reported.