The Amarnath Yatra resumed on Thursday after a six-day suspension due to adverse weather conditions in the Kashmir Valley. More than 6,000 pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for the holy cave shrine, according to PTI.
Yatra Resumes After Weather Disruption
The pilgrimage was halted on July 19 following heavy rainfall and landslides along the route, posing risks to safety. The decision to pause the yatra was taken by the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB) in coordination with local authorities. After a thorough assessment of weather conditions and route clearance, the yatra was allowed to resume.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha had earlier flagged off the first batch of pilgrims on July 2, a day before the official start of the annual pilgrimage. That initial batch marked the beginning of the 43-day yatra, which typically sees hundreds of thousands of devotees.
Pilgrims Depart from Jammu Base Camp
The convoy of over 6,000 pilgrims left Jammu in a fleet of buses and private vehicles, escorted by security forces. The route includes stops at camps in Pahalgam and Baltal before reaching the holy cave. Authorities have deployed additional personnel and medical teams to ensure safety.
The resumption is expected to ease the backlog of pilgrims who were stranded at various points. Many devotees had been waiting in Jammu for the weather to clear. Officials said that more batches will be dispatched in the coming days as conditions remain favorable.
Impact on the Annual Pilgrimage
The six-day halt is one of the longest weather-related disruptions in recent years. The shrine board had to adjust the schedule to accommodate delayed pilgrims while ensuring the yatra concludes on time. The cave shrine, located at an altitude of 3,888 meters, remains accessible via two main routes.
Despite the break, the overall number of pilgrims this year is expected to be high, with registrations exceeding previous averages. The yatra continues to be a major religious event in the region, drawing devotees from across India and abroad.
