The annual Amarnath Yatra has been suspended for the day due to heavy rainfall, with no pilgrim convoy allowed to move from Jammu to the base camps in Kashmir on Thursday, officials said.
Citing adverse weather conditions along the Yatra routes, authorities halted the movement of pilgrims from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu. “Due to heavy rains in the Yatra area, the movement of pilgrims from the base camps has been affected. Therefore, it has been decided that no convoy movement shall be allowed towards the base camps Baltal and Nunwan from Jammu on July 31,” said Ramesh Kumar, Divisional Commissioner of Jammu.
So far, more than 3.93 lakh pilgrims have visited the holy Amarnath Cave Shrine during this year’s pilgrimage, which began on July 3 and is scheduled to conclude on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.
Officials have also confirmed that the Yatra will resume via the Baltal route only, starting Friday, August 1. The Pahalgam axis has been temporarily closed for urgent repair and maintenance following recent rainfall. “Due to the heavy rains, necessary maintenance work is being undertaken on the Pahalgam route. The Yatra shall continue only through the Baltal axis from August 1,” said Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri.
This is the second consecutive day of disruption, as the Yatra from both Baltal and Chandanwari/Nunwan base camps was suspended on July 30 due to weather-related concerns.
Meanwhile, preparations continue for the annual ‘Chhari Mubarak’ procession—the holy mace of Lord Shiva—which will commence from the Amareshwar Temple in Srinagar on August 4 and reach the cave shrine on the morning of August 9.
Located at an altitude of 3,888 metres, the Amarnath cave shrine is known for the naturally formed ice stalagmite believed by devotees to represent Lord Shiva.
-IANS