The ongoing Amarnath Yatra has been temporarily suspended for a day from both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes due to heavy rain warnings across Jammu and Kashmir, officials confirmed on Thursday, July 17. The suspension, which came into effect following a weather advisory, was taken as a precautionary step to safeguard pilgrims, as the rain has rendered trekking paths dangerously slippery and prone to landslides. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation, with the pilgrimage expected to resume on July 18, pending safety clearance.
The Border Roads Organization (BRO) has launched intensive restoration work along both routes, deploying personnel and heavy machinery to repair damage caused by the rains. Their efforts are focused on stabilizing paths, clearing debris, and ensuring that the tracks are safe for pilgrims to traverse once the yatra resumes. Safety inspections are ongoing at multiple points along the route to assess conditions.
The suspension comes just a day after a tragic incident along the Baltal route, where a woman pilgrim lost her life and three others were injured in a landslide in Ganderbal district. The incident underscored the risks posed by extreme weather conditions in the region, prompting officials to prioritize the safety of thousands of devotees participating in the annual yatra.
