Amarnath yatra resumes from Pahalgam and Baltal routes

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Srinagar: The annual pilgrimage to the 3880-metre-high cave shrine of Amarnath resumed on Friday from Pahalgam and Baltal routes after weather improved.

Rains have rendered the tracks slippery at some places, leading to suspension of the yatra.

The Jammu-Srinagar national highway was also blocked due to landslides.

The annual yatra to the holy shrine of Amarnath began from the twin routes of Pahalgam and Baltal here amidst tight security arrangements on Thursday.

This year, the Amarnath yatra will be eight days shorter than last year's 48 days and will conclude on Shravan Purnima (Raksha Bandhan) on August 7.

Authorities have heightened security for the 40-day long Yatra because of intelligence inputs that militants might attempt to disrupt it.

This year 2.12 lakh 'yatris' have registered for the pilgrimage to the Hindu cave shrine situated nearly 14,000 feet above the sea level.