Rain and thunder forecast for two days might hamper yatra

As the first group of Amarnath pilgrims poured into the Baltal base camp on Wednesday evening in order to begin their pilgrimage on Thursday morning, weatherman forecast rain and thunder for the next two days. 

Hundreds of pilgrims have already reached the Baltal base camp in Ganderbal ahead of the official commencement of the annual yatra and are eagerly waiting for the commencement of the annual pilgrimage on Thursday. The pilgrims would start the 9 km long trek to the cave on Thursday morning. 

   

While pilgrims take a few days from the Pahalgam base camp to reach the cave, those using the Baltal route return back to the base camp after the ‘Darshan’ the same day.

Situated at an altitude of 13,000 feet, the Amarnath cave houses the ‘Holy Lingam’ an ice stalagmite structure believed to symbolize the powers of Lord Shiva. 

The Meteorological Department on Wednesday said that Jammu and Kashmir region will have cloudy weather in the next two days. On Wednesday, it released a statement forecasting moderate rainfall with thunders in the state for next 24 hours.

Director MeT Sonam Lotus told Greater Kashmir that the weather will remain cloudy for next two days, adding that moderate rainfall with thunder shower will occur at many places on both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes.

The authorities have set up joint control rooms at Pahalgam and Baltal, besides weather advisory shall be issued after every three hours by the Metrological department for the convenience of Yatris.

“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 official at the Baltal base camp told Greater Kashmir. 

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