The annual Amarnath pilgrimage was temporarily halted on Wednesday due to inclement weather as normal life remained affected in Kashmir Valley due to heavy rainfall on Tuesday evening that resulted into loss of human life and property in several areas. At least three Amarnath pilgrims were killed in a landslide in Baltal area while two local yougsters died in Nigeen lake when their boat capsized due to a windstorm.

The weatherman has predicted improvement in overall weather pattern in the Valley from Thursday.

At least three Amarnath pilgrims were killed after landslide hit the Railpathri-Brarimarg track stretch near Baltal, the alternate route to Amarnath Cave in Ganderbal district on Tuesday evening. Three persons including two porters were injured in the mishap. The heavy downpour wreaked havoc across the valley causing heavy damage to crops and uprooting trees. Power supply was snapped in several parts of the Valley. The authorities closed Mughal Road for vehicular traffic due to landslides.

Officials said two more pilgrims died of cardiac arrest at the Baltal Base camp area.

A senior police official said that restoration work on damaged track stretch between Domail and Sangam at two to three places along Baltal route was underway. He said only after reviewing the weather and track condition, the yatra will be resumed. Helicopter services remained in operation from Baltal Base Camp to transport approved number of pilgrims upto Panjtarni for onward journey towards the holy cave. Meanwhile, a fresh batch of over 3700 pilgrims including over 600 women devotees today left Jammu for the yatra.

In another incident, at least seven Amarnath pilgrims were injured in an accident on the Jammu-Srinagar national highway in the Ramban district. The injured have been shifted to the hospital.

3 killed in landslide on Baltal route