Heavy rainfall along the twin pilgrimage routes to the Amarnath cave shrine forced authorities to temporarily halt the annual Yatra on Thursday, citing safety concerns and urgent need for repair works on the tracks.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, confirmed the development and said the decision was taken following continuous rainfall over the past few days. “Due to the continuous rains over the last couple of days, urgent repair and maintenance works are required to be carried out on the tracks. The authorities have decided that no movement shall be allowed towards the holy cave shrine from both base camps today,” he told reporters in Srinagar.
While the forward movement has been restricted, authorities have allowed pilgrims camped at Panchtarni to return downhill. “However, yatris who stayed at Panchtarni camp during the preceding night are being allowed to proceed down to Baltal under adequate deployment of BRO and Mountain Rescue Teams,” Bidhuri said.
The administration is closely monitoring the weather situation and said the pilgrimage could resume on Friday, provided conditions improve. “The pilgrimage is expected to commence tomorrow, depending on improvements in weather conditions,” he added.
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As per data from the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR), over 2.5 lakh pilgrims have offered prayers at the Amarnath cave shrine this year since the Yatra began on July 2. The annual pilgrimage, which traverses the rugged mountains of south Kashmir, is scheduled to continue till August 9.
Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed optimism about the turnout for the Yatra. “The Amarnath Yatra will continue till 9th August, and I hope that this number will increase. There was a time when, after the Pahalgam attack, it seemed that hardly anyone would come for the Amarnath Yatra. But we have touched 2.5 lakh, and if it stays like this, then we should easily cross 3 lakh and 3.5 lakh,” Abdullah said on Wednesday.
The pilgrimage was flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha earlier this month from the Jammu base camp. The Yatra is considered one of the most significant annual religious events in the region and draws pilgrims from across India.
While the administration has ramped up security and logistical arrangements, inclement weather in the high-altitude zones continues to pose challenges for the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
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