Amarnath Yatra Suspended for Fourth Day Due to Severe Weather Conditions

Amarnath Yatra Update

Srinagar, July 22: The Amarnath Yatra has been halted for the fourth consecutive day due to adverse weather conditions, with all devotees currently safe in transit and base camps at Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam).

Officials reported that all religious pilgrimages in Jammu and Kashmir, including the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra, Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra, Shiv Khori Yatra, and Machail Mata Yatra, have been suspended for four days because of heavy rainfall, flash floods, and cloudbursts.

In response to the weather warnings issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), the local administration decided to suspend all Yatras in the region on Saturday evening. The Amarnath Yatra from the two routes of Baltal in Ganderbal district and Nandiwan-Pahalgam in Anantnag district was halted on July 18, along with the Yatra to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, Shiv Khori shrine in Reasi, and Machail Mata Shrine in Kishtwar.

Authorities have advised pilgrims not to proceed until further notice based on the IMD's forecasts.

While some stranded pilgrims from Panchtarni, the last stop on the Pahalgam route to the cave shrine, were permitted to proceed for darshan on July 19 and 20, no pilgrims were allowed to visit the holy cave of Shri Amarnath on Wednesday due to ongoing heavy rainfall in the area.

Yatra operations from Jammu to the base camps of Baltal and Nandiwan-Pahalgam have also been suspended for the third day in a row. Approximately 6,000 pilgrims are currently at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas and nearby Asha Ram Bapu Ashram. However, over 2,000 Amarnath-bound pilgrims stranded in Jammu have returned to their home states due to the persistent rain.

Additionally, there are around 250 Sadhus at Geeta Bhawan Jammu and 200 at Ram Mandir, Purani Mandi. Various charitable organizations have set up Langars to provide free meals to the pilgrims.

Currently, 2,800 pilgrims are stranded at Nandiwan-Pahalgam in Anantnag district, awaiting the reopening of the track to proceed for darshan.

Officials mentioned that nearly all pilgrims stranded at Baltal were allowed to leave for darshan on Tuesday, but none from Nunwan were permitted to advance due to the severe weather.

There are also 438 pilgrims at Yatri Niwas Pantha Chowk in Srinagar, 134 at Baltal in Ganderbal district, and 458 at Yatri Niwas Chanderkot in Ramban district.

It is important to note that the IMD has issued a six-day weather warning for J&K from July 19 to July 24. While the Mata Vaishno Devi, Shiv Khori, and Machail Mata Yatra remain suspended, a symbolic Chhari Yatra was conducted to Sarthal Mata Shrine from Kishtwar on Tuesday to celebrate the Goddess's birthday.

Since the Yatra commenced on July 3, a total of 3.91 lakh pilgrims have visited the holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji.

The 57-day Yatra to the holy cave of Baba Barfani, located at an altitude of 3,888 meters, is set to conclude on Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan festivals on August 28.