The officials said that no convoy movement was permitted from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu to the Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camps in the Kashmir Valley.
SRINAGAR: The Amarnath Yatra was suspended from Jammu on Wednesday in view of heavy rainfall and inclement weather conditions affecting the pilgrimage routes.
The officials said that no convoy movement was permitted from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu to the Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam) base camps in the Kashmir Valley. Divisional Commissioner Jammu, Ramesh Kumar, termed it a precautionary measure following the reports that heavy rains have made the trekking routes unsafe.
Confirming it, his Valley-based counterpart Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said that the decision was made to ensure pilgrim safety amid forecasts of continued heavy rainfall and potential flash floods. He said, “The Yatra was halted as a precautionary measure because the heavy rainfall made the trekking routes unsafe, affecting pilgrim movement from the base camps. The pilgrims’ safety is our top priority.” The officer advised the pilgrims to stay updated on further announcements regarding the Yatra's resumption.
As per the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB), over 3.93 lakh devotees have had 'darshan' at the Amarnath holy cave shrine during the ongoing Yatra, with officials expecting the number to cross four lakh within the next two days. The 38-day annual pilgrimage began on July 3 and is scheduled to conclude on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan, the two significant Hindu festivals falling on the same day this year. The alignment of these festivals with the Amarnath Yatra's conclusion adds spiritual significance to the event.
Mahant Deependra Giri, the custodian of the Chhari Mubarak or the holy mace of Lord Shiva, said that it will begin its final journey towards the Amarnath cave-shrine from the Amareshwar Temple at Srinagar’s Dashnami Akhara Building on August 4. “The Chhari Mubarak will, after traditional puja ceremonies to be held en-route at Pampore, Bijbehara, Mattan, and Pahalgam, reach the holy cave-shrine on August 9 morning where the traditional puja, a grand havan and the final aarti will be performed, marking the culmination of the Yatra”, he said.
Kashmir's Divisional Commissioner Vijay Kumar Bidhuri late Wednesday night announced that due to the maintenance works required to be carried out on the Pahalgam axis of Amarnath Yatra route following the recent rains, the pilgrimage will continue only through Baltal axis.
"Due to the recent heavy rains, urgent repair and maintenance works are required to be carried out on the Pahalgam Axis of Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra route. The Yatra shall continue from the Baltal axis from 1st August onwards", he said.
