Amarnath Yatra suspended on Article 370 abrogation anniversary

SRINAGAR — The Amarnath Yatra for pilgrims in Jammu and Kashmir was temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure on the fifth anniversary of the abrogation of Article 370, officials said. This decision halted any new batches from travelling from Jammu to Kashmir for the day.

So far this year, over 490,000 pilgrims have visited the Amarnath cave shrine, situated at an elevation of 3,880 meters. The suspension was part of heightened security measures in the city in light of the anniversary.

On August 5, 2019, Home Minister Amit Shah announced the abrogation of Article 370, ending the special status of Jammu and Kashmir. This led to the creation of two Union Territories, Jammu & Kashmir and Ladakh, and the withdrawal of the State’s special status.

The Yatra, which began on June 29, is set to run for 52 days and conclude on August 19.