Jammu, August 16
After remaining suspended for two days due to security reasons and bad weather conditions, the annual Amarnath yatra today resumed from here with a new batch leaving for the holy cave shrine.

The batch of 875 pilgrims, comprising 514 men, 145 women, 8 children and 208 sadhus, left in a cavalcade of 24 vehicles from the base camp of Bhagwati Nagar here around 10:25 a.m., police officials said.

With today’s batch, as many as 86,072 pilgrims from different parts of the country had left from here for onward journey to pay obeisance at the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine in the Valley.

The yatra remained suspended for last two days due to security reasons and heavy rains in the Valley.

This is the sixth time that the pilgrimage was halted since its commencement on June 30.

Over 4.50 lakh pilgrims have so far paid obeisance at the cave shrine.

Meanwhile, Buddha Amarnath Yatra in Poonch district was today suspended from Jammu due to bad weather, officials said.

No new batch was allowed to leave from Jammu to Buddha Amarnath Shrine Mandi hills of Poonch district from here due to inclement weather conditions and heavy rains en route, they said.

The yatra, which started on Friday, has been suspended for the first time. As many as 4,000 pilgrims have left for the shrine till now. — PTI