The annual Amarnath Yatra was suspended on July 30 from both Pahalgam and Baltal base camps due to incessant rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir. The decision was taken by Divisional Commissioner Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, prioritising pilgrim safety amid treacherous conditions.
Despite the weather setback, this year’s yatra has already seen an impressive turnout with over 3.93 lakh devotees offering prayers at the holy cave shrine. A fresh batch of 1,490 pilgrims left Jammu’s Bhagwati Nagar base camp on July 28, taking both the Baltal (14 km) and Pahalgam (48 km) routes under heavy security.
With the pilgrimage set to conclude on August 9, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan, officials are monitoring weather conditions closely. Safety protocols are being strictly enforced, and route reopenings will be based on real-time weather assessments. Last year, the yatra witnessed a record 5.10 lakh pilgrims.
