Srinagar, Aug. 3 -- Amarnath Yatra will remain suspended from August 3 on both Pahalgam and Baltal routes as the tracks are being repaired afterheavy rain, said officials on Saturday. The yatra, which began on July 3, was scheduled to conclude on August 9 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. However, authorities decided to shorten it by a week, citing "critical repair and maintenance works" to be undertaken in the wake of the heavy rainfall. Kashmir divisional commissioner Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said that due to the recent heavy rains, critical repair and maintenance works are required on both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes. "It has been observed that due to continued deployment of men and machinery on the tracks from tomorrow, we would not be able to resume yatra. The yatra will therefore remain suspended from August 3 onwards from both the routes." Bidhuri noted that this year, over 4,10,000 yatris visited the holy cave shrine. In comparison, last yearsaw more than 5,10,000 pilgrims pay their respects at the shrine. The highest-ever number of pilgrims to visit the shrine was in 2011 and 2012 at 6.35 lakh and 6.22 lakh, respectively....