Srinagar
The annual Amarnath Yatra was suspended for three days on Tuesday as the authorities decided not to allow any pilgrim to move from Jammu to the Kashmir Valley from August 21 to 23.
“No yatri will be allowed to move towards the Kashmir Valley from here on August 21, 22 and 23,” an official said.
Officials gave no explanation for the yatra’s suspension, but informed sources said the decision was taken because of the Eid festival on Wednesday, and also due to the decreasing number of pilgrims opting for the yatra as it nears its end on August 26.
On Monday, a small batch of just 43 pilgrims left the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas for the Kashmir Valley.
The 60-day long annual Amarnath Yatra which started on June 28 has been going on smoothly. Till date, over 2.82 lakh pilgrims have paid their obeisance at Amarnath cave.
More pilgrims have visited the cave shrine so far in 2018, than in each of the last three years.
The 60-day Amarnath Yatra will end on August 26, coinciding with the Shravan Purnima festival.
