SRINAGAR: Due to heavy rain the Amarnath yatra was delayed, on the first day of two month long annual pilgrimage, which commenced from Thursday, official sources said.
There was heavy rain on both traditional Pahalgam and shortest Baltal tracks since early Thursday morning making them slippery, official sources told UNI.
However, a number of pilgrims left Nunwan Phalgam base camp for Chandanwari, the last motorable halting station on traditional route.
Sources said if weather improves, yatris will be allowed to undertake the foot journey towards the cave shrine in south Kashmir Himalayas.
"Once we receive that tracks are safe for undertaking the foot journey we will allow pilgrims to leave for holy cave," they said.
About 3000 pilgrims, including women and Sadhus arrived at Nunwan Palahgam and Baltal base camp from Jammu on Wednesday evening.
However, there were already several thousand pilgrims at both the camps.
Thousands of security forces, including sharp shooters have been deployed on both sides of Baltal and Pahalgam tracks to ensure safe and peaceful pilgrims this year when the militancy related incidents have witnessed several fold increase.