Amarnath Yatra has been temporarily suspended following continuous heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The suspension affects both Pahalgam and Baltal routes, with authorities citing safety concerns amid the worsening weather.
Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar announced that no pilgrim convoys will be allowed to move toward the Baltal and Nunwan base camps from Bhagwati Nagar, Jammu, on July 31. He said the movement from base camps has been disrupted due to intense rainfall in the Yatra area.
In Kashmir, Divisional Commissioner Vijay Kumar Bidhuri stated that due to persistent rain since early morning on July 30, pilgrims were not allowed to proceed from the Baltal and Chandanwari tracks. The Jammu and Kashmir Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) also shared the suspension update through an official post on X.
Despite rain warnings, over 1,300 pilgrims had left Jammu earlier on Wednesday for the twin base camps in South Kashmir. The Yatra, which resumed earlier this month, began on July 3 and is scheduled to conclude on August 9, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan. This year, nearly four lakh devotees have already visited the sacred cave shrine.
Located at an altitude of approximately 3,888 metres in South Kashmir, the Amarnath shrine attracts lakhs of pilgrims every year. The pilgrimage is carried out through either the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route or the shorter but steeper 14-km Baltal route. This is the second time the Yatra has been halted due to weather, with a previous suspension reported on July 17.
Meanwhile, on July 27, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch of pilgrims for the Budha Amarnath Yatra. Speaking at the event, he highlighted that the administration has made strong arrangements for both pilgrimages and ensured the safety of all devotees.
