M A I N   N E W S

Pilgrims urged to defer yatra

JAMMU, July 23 (PTI) — The Jammu and Kashmir Government has appealed to pilgrims to defer their Amarnath Yatra in view of the continued inclement weather.

“We appeal to all those pilgrims who have no registration to defer their programme... till the rush at Jammu and other places on yatra routes is cleared,” the Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Mr Anil Goswami told mediapersons here last evening.

The yatra, he said, was being conducted strictly in accordance with the recommendations of the Nitish Sen Gupta Commission report, which had limited the number of daily pilgrims to 3500.

Meanwhile, the authorities today refused to allow a fresh batch of pilgrims to proceed to Pahalgam from Jammu, an official spokesman said here.

At least 1000 pilgrims are stranded at various places near Banihal along the Jammu-Srinagar highway due to landslides.