“The Shri Amarnathji Yatra has been suspended for 17.07.2025 from both Pahalgam and Baltal base camps. Continuous heavy rains over the last two days have necessitated restoration work to be carried out on tracks along both routes,” said Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Vijay Kumar Bhiduri.
However, Bhiduri added that pilgrims who had stayed at Panjtami camp last night are being permitted to descend to Baltal, following the deployment of the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) and Mountain Rescue Teams to ensure their safe passage.
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The BRO has mobilised personnel and machinery along both routes to repair and clear the tracks, with the objective of resuming the yatra as soon as conditions permit. “In all likelihood, the yatra shall resume tomorrow (Friday), depending on the weather conditions during the course of the day,” Bhiduri said.
An official told PTI that the weather advisory forecast heavy rains across Jammu and Kashmir, including along the yatra routes. This marks the first suspension of the pilgrimage from Jammu this season.
The suspension follows a tragic incident on the Baltal route in Ganderbal district, where a woman pilgrim lost her life and three others were injured in a landslide on Wednesday.
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Despite the disruption, a total of 2.47 lakh pilgrims have made the journey to the 3,880-metre-high cave shrine since the yatra’s commencement on July 3. Moreover, 1,01,553 pilgrims have departed from the Jammu base camp as of July 2, after Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha inaugurated the first procession. Over 400,000 pilgrims have registered online for this year’s yatra.
In 2024, over 5.10 lakh pilgrims completed the journey to the holy shrine during the 38-day pilgrimage, which is set to conclude on August 9 this year.
As the weather advisory is still in effect, officials are vigilant and are taking measures to ensure the safety of pilgrims and facilitate their return or onward journey once the yatra resumes.
(Edited by : Jerome Anthony)
