Registration for annual Amarnath yatra suspended temporarily

Srinagar: Registration for the annual yatra to holy Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas has been temporarily suspended in view of surge in COVID-19 cases, Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) announced Thursday afternoon.

In a tweet, the SASB said, ''In view of evolving COVID situation in the country & the need to take all necessary precautionary measures, registration for Shri Amarnath ji Yatra is being temporarily suspended. The situation is being constantly monitored and it would be reopened once the situation improves''.

Last year, the yatra was cancelled for similar reasons.

This year the yatra was to start from traditional Pahalgam and shortest Baltal routes from June 28 and culminate on August 22, the Rakshabandan day. Registration for the 56-day-long pilgrimage started on April 1.

About 2,204 new COVID-19 cases were recorded on Wednesday in the Union Territory, including 905 in Jammu and 1299 in Kashmir. Meanwhile, India on Thursday reported the world's biggest-ever daily surge with 3.14 lakh new cases and 2,104 deaths since Wednesday. (UNI)