Vaishno Devi and Amarnath Yatras Temporarily Suspended Due to Bad Weather

Katra: The pilgrimage to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine has been temporarily suspended as a precautionary measure following adverse weather conditions in Jammu and Kashmir, officials said on Sunday.

Authorities said the decision has been taken to ensure the safety of pilgrims and have appealed to devotees to cooperate by postponing their journey until further notice. Pilgrims have also been advised to stay updated through official channels for information on the resumption of the yatra.

The suspension comes alongside a temporary halt to the ongoing Shri Amarnath Yatra after the India Meteorological Department (IMD) forecast unfavourable weather conditions across the region.

Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Anshul Garg, said that, as a precaution, the Amarnath Yatra has been suspended on both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes with immediate effect from Sunday. No fresh movement of pilgrims will be allowed from the Baltal and Nunwan-Chandanwari base camps until weather conditions improve and the routes are declared safe.

Officials said the pilgrimage will resume only after a comprehensive assessment of weather conditions and route safety.

Despite the temporary suspension, the Shri Amarnath Yatra has witnessed a strong turnout this year, with more than 3.7 lakh devotees visiting the holy cave shrine since the pilgrimage began on July 3. The 57-day annual yatra is scheduled to conclude on August 28, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

The sacred Amarnath cave, located at an altitude of 3,880 metres, can be reached through the traditional Pahalgam route or the shorter Baltal route. Pilgrims using the Baltal route usually complete their visit and return to the base camp on the same day.

The cave is revered for its naturally formed ice stalagmite, believed by devotees to represent Lord Shiva. For security reasons, the areas beyond the Baltal and Nunwan base camps have been declared a no-fly zone this year, resulting in the suspension of helicopter services for pilgrims.

With inputs from IANS