Amarnath Yatra to remain suspended on Friday

Jammu, July 15 (IANS) The annual Amarnath Yatra was suspended on Friday because of the prevailing law and order situation in Kashmir Valley, officials said.

"No yatri was allowed on Friday to move from Bhagawati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu city towards the valley," a senior police official told IANS in Jammu.

"The situation will be reviewed in the afternoon and a call will be taken on whether or not the movement of the pilgrims should be allowed on Friday," the official said.

The annual Amarnath Yatra started on July 2 this year and so far around 1,45,000 pilgrims have had ‘Darshan’ inside the Cave Shrine situated 3,888 metres above the sea level.

Despite heightened tensions in the valley because of the killing of Hizbul commander, Burhan Wani, on July 8, local Muslims have been lending a helping hand to the pilgrims in performing the yatra.

Local Ponywallahs, taxi operators, roadside tea stall owners, porters and the common man in the valley were ensuring that the yatra was not affected because of the prevailing law and order situation in Kashmir.