Jammu and Kashmir: Amarnath Yatra halted along both Baltal and Pahalgam routes
Three people were killed in a landslide between Brarimarg and Railpathri in Ganderbal district late on Tuesday.
The annual Amarnath Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir was halted along both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes on Wednesday because of the poor condition of roads, Greater Kashmir reported. The state has had heavy rainfall since Tuesday.
“No pilgrim was allowed to undertake journey from Nunwan base camp towards the cave shrine today,” said Deputy Commissioner of Anantnag Muhammad Younis Malik.
The state administration’s decision came after three people were killed and three were injured late on Tuesday in a landslide on the Baltal route in Ganderbal district. The incident took place between Brarimarg and Railpathri, nearly 7 km from the cave shrine, Senior Superintendent of Police Fayaz Ahmed Lone told Greater Kashmir. Two of the deceased pilgrims were identified as 35-year-old Jyoti Sharma from New Delhi and 55-year-old Ashok Mahtu, a resident of Patna.
Earlier on Tuesday, three pilgrims – two from Andhra Pradesh – died while trekking to the Amarnath shrine, NDTV reported. With this, 11 pilgrims have died during this year’s yatra.
Meanwhile, a flash flood hit a car parking area at the Baltal base camp on Tuesday, the police said. No injuries were reported.