Even as the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway has been re-opened for traffic, authorities on Wednesday announced suspension of AmarnathYatra till Sunday in view of inclement weather prediction.
“The national highway was re-opened in afternoon,” TrafficPolice department officials said here. “It was closed in the morning afterlandslides hit the road at some places.”
They said a landslide triggered by incessant rainfall led tothe closure of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway on Wednesday. The landslideoccurred after continued rainfall at MorhPassi near BalliNallah in Udhampurdistrict of Jammu.
The authorities have announced suspension of AmarnathYatratill Sunday (4th August) in view of inclement weather prediction.
“India Meteorology Department has predicted heavy rainfallfor next few days all over Jammu and Kashmir, which may cause landslides andshooting stones on highway between Jammu and Srinagar, particularly in thestretch between Ramban and Banihal, which is highly vulnerable to landslidesand shooting stone,” an official spokesman said here.
The tracks to Amarnath cave from Baltal and Pahalgam, hesaid, have become slippery due to recent heavy rainfall and the situation islikely to aggravate in next couple of days in view of weather advisory issuedby IMD. “In view of inclement weather conditions, shooting stones andlandslides particularly in Jammu region, Yatra will remain suspended till 4thAugust, 2019.”
Director MeT, Sonam Lotus said that in Kashmir the weatherwill be hot and humid. However he said there can be moderate to heavy spell ofrain and thunder on Thursday and Friday morning.
Lotus said Udhampur has received 342 mm of rainfall since 8pm on Tuesday. Katra town, which is the base camp for Vaishno Devi pilgrims in Reasidistrict, recorded 292.4 mm rainfall during the same period, Lotus said.