S P O T L I G H T

Yatra suspended due to rain
Srinagar, July 29
The Amarnath Yatra had been temporarily suspended today by the authorities in view of heavy rains lashing the two routes to the cave shrine since last night. The pilgrimage was stopped as a precautionary measure as the heavy downpour left both Pahalgam and Baltal routes, the dangerous tracks to the 3,880-metre high holy shrine of Amarnath, slippery, official sources said. While the traditional 46-km long Pahalgam route had witnessed heavy rains since yesterday, the shorter route of Baltal to the cave was lashed by rains after midnight, forcing the authorities to suspend the pilgrimage temporarily, they said. The pilgrims had been asked to remain in their tents. PTI