Natika Bhat
Srinagar July 17: The sacred Amarnath Yatra came to an abrupt halt on Thursday as relentless rainfall triggered a series of landslides and rendered key sections of the pilgrimage routes impassable. In the interest of public safety, authorities suspended the movement of pilgrims from both the Baltal and Pahalgam base camps.
Officials confirmed that no yatri was permitted to move forward on the heavily affected trails after overnight downpours battered the upper Himalayan region, leaving stretches of the paths treacherous and unstable—particularly along the Baltal route in central Kashmir’s Ganderbal district.
“Due to severe weather conditions and damage to the tracks, we had to stop the yatra temporarily. Repair work is ongoing, and if conditions improve, we hope to resume the pilgrimage by Friday,” an official involved in the yatra management said.
Meanwhile, pilgrims who had already reached Panchtarni—one of the higher altitudes along the route—were carefully guided back towards Baltal under the watchful supervision of rescue personnel.
Since the yatra commenced on July 3, over 2.47 lakh devotees have completed the journey to the sacred Amarnath Cave, despite unpredictable weather and the challenges posed by the rugged terrain. Officials have consistently urged pilgrims to remain alert and follow weather-related advisories.
The administration has reassured the public that preparations are in place to restart the pilgrimage swiftly once the tracks are secured and conditions permit. Authorities have reiterated their commitment to ensuring the safety and wellbeing of all pilgrims undertaking this spiritual journey.
