Amarnath Yatra suspended indefinitely as tracks damaged in adverse weather conditions

Srinagar: Due to damaged tracks on both the North Kashmir Baltal route and the South Kashmir Pahalgam route and following adverse weather advisory, the Amarnath Yatra has been suspended indefinitely.

Officials said the damage to the two tracks leading from the two base camps will take a long time to rectify, and keeping in view the safety of the Yatris, SANJY-2026 has been suspended and all pilgrims at the base camp and the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu have been asked to return home.

“Registration for this year’s Yatra has also been closed, and the movement of Yatris towards the Valley will not be allowed this year although the ‘Chhari Mubarak’ (Lord Shivam’s holy Mace) will travel through the traditional Pahalgam route and reach the cave shrine on August 28 when the Yatra will formally conclude”, officials said.

Since the 57-day-long SANJY-2026 started on July 3, more than 4.80 lakh Yatris have had darshan inside the holy cave shrine situated 3880 metres above sea level in the Kashmir Himalayas. The cave shrine houses an ice stalagmite structure that waxes and wanes with the phases of the moon. Devotees believe that the ice stalagmite structure symbolises the mythical powers of Lord Shiva.

Officials said the Yatri convoys to be allowed now will only be those carrying pilgrims back from the Valley.

The Meteorological Department has forecast heavy to very heavy rain in Jammu and Kashmir during the next two days, and given the topography and the altitude of the holy cave shrine, adverse weather would affect the two Yatra tracks and the cave shrine area very adversely in the coming days.

Since the area beyond the two base camps had been declared as ‘No fly zone’, no helicopter services were available to the Yatris this year.

Due to the 24/7 vigil maintained by the J&K Police, CAPFs and the Army, this year’s Amarnath Yatra has been incident-free, and no hiccup occurred due to enhanced security measures.

IANS