In the Kashmir Valley, the annual Amarnath Yatra remained temporarily suspended for the second consecutive day on 8th July 2023, Saturday due to inclement weather conditions prevailing along the twin Yatra routes of Baltal and Nunwan-Pahalgam in Ganderbal and Anantnag districts respectively. The officials said that the Yatra shall resume only when the weather conditions along the Yatra tracks improve.
 
As per the latest reports, it was raining on all major halting points like Chandanwadi, Sheshnag and Mahaguns-Top along the Nunwan-Pahalgam Yatra route including from the axis along Domail-Baltal track since last evening.
 
Moreover, the authorities also didn't allow the Yatris to proceed further from Jammu.  No fresh batch of Yatris was allowed to leave from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in the wee hours on 8th July 2023 in view of the suspension of the holy Yatra and the inclement weather in the Kashmir Valley besides the closure of the 270 Kms long Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
 
Landslides and shooting stones triggered by overnight heavy rains hit the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway at many points while a portion of the road near the Panthyal Tunnel was washed away in Ramban Sector forcing the authorities to suspend the vehicular traffic on the Highway. The train services from Qazigund to Banihal railway track also remained suspended for the day after water-logging at Railway station Hiller in Anantnag district.
 
Meanwhile, 3,350 pilgrims after returning to base camp at Baltal from the holy cave after having darshan of the ice Shiv Lingam of Lord Shiva too were stopped at Meer Bazar and Qazigund due to the closure of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway.
 
Earlier, a batch of 4,600 pilgrims was stopped at Chanderkot along the National Highway in Ramban district yesterday to avoid over-crowding at the Pahalgam base camp following the Yatra’s temporary suspension since yesterday morning.