Amarnath Yatra suspended from Jammu for second day; over four lakh pilgrims have visited so far
New delhi:The Amarnath Yatra from Jammu to the Valley remained suspended for the second consecutive day on Friday, with authorities citing ongoing maintenance work along the Pahalgam route. Pilgrims were, however, allowed to proceed from the Baltal base camp.
This year’s yatra, which began on July 3, is scheduled to conclude on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. Pilgrims undertake the journey either via the 46-km traditional Pahalgam route, which takes four days on foot, or the 14-km Baltal route, which allows same-day return after darshan. There are no helicopter services this year due to security reasons.
Officials of the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board (SASB) confirmed that no yatri was allowed to move from Jammu or the Pahalgam base camp due to safety concerns along the traditional route. Movement towards the holy cave shrine, situated at 3,888 metres in the Kashmir Himalayas, was permitted only from the Baltal axis.
The number of pilgrims undertaking the yatra this year has crossed the 4 lakh mark, according to Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who also heads the SASB.
“Baba Amarnath makes the impossible possible. With his blessings, the holy Yatra today crossed the figure of 4 lakh,” Sinha posted on X. “I bow to Lord Shiva for this miracle and express my gratitude to everyone involved in making the pilgrimage a divine experience.”
The holy cave houses a naturally forming ice stalagmite, believed by devotees to represent Lord Shiva.
Meanwhile, the Chhari Mubarak — Lord Shiva’s sacred mace — will begin its final journey from Srinagar’s Amareshwar Temple on August 4 and reach the cave shrine on August 9. Rituals and pujas will be conducted en route at Pampore, Bijbehara, Mattan, and Pahalgam.
Security arrangements remain tight, with multiple layers of protection deployed along the yatra routes, especially after the April 22 terror attack in Baisaran near Pahalgam, in which 26 people were killed.
