Amarnath Yatra Suspended... No Convoy Moves Beyond Jammu – Devotees Left Waiting
Jammu(The Uttam Hindu): Due to continuous heavy rainfall, the Amarnath Yatra has been temporarily suspended, and no pilgrim convoy will be allowed to travel from Jammu to Kashmir on Thursday. Authorities confirmed that, as a precautionary measure, no pilgrim will be permitted to move beyond the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu.
Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar stated, “Heavy rainfall in the pilgrimage region has disrupted movement from the base camps. Therefore, it has been decided that no convoy will be allowed from Bhagwati Nagar towards Baltal or Nunwan on July 31. Pilgrims will be regularly updated on the situation.”
As of now, more than 3.93 lakh pilgrims have visited the holy Amarnath Cave during the 2025 Yatra. Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Vijay Kumar Bidhuri also noted that due to recent rainfall, urgent repair and maintenance work is required along the Pahalgam route. The yatra is expected to resume from the Baltal route starting August 1.
On July 30, the pilgrimage was halted from both Baltal and Chandanwari base camps due to landslide risks caused by downpours. The Amarnath Yatra, which began on July 3 this year, is scheduled to conclude on August 9. Pilgrims using the Pahalgam route cover a 46-kilometer trek via Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchtarni, which usually takes four days. In contrast, the shorter 14-kilometer Baltal route allows pilgrims to return to the base camp the same day.
Due to security concerns, no helicopter service is being offered this year. The Amarnath Yatra is considered one of the holiest pilgrimages for Shiva devotees, as it is believed that Lord Shiva shared the secret of immortality with Goddess Parvati inside the sacred cave.