The annual Amarnath Yatra, one of India’s most sacred pilgrimages, was suspended on July 17 after a deadly landslide hit the Baltal route in Kashmir. The incident claimed the life of a 55-year-old woman pilgrim from Rajasthan and injured three others. The decision to halt the yatra came following continuous rainfall in the region and a warning of further extreme weather, leading officials to prioritise safety and restore damaged paths.
The landslide occurred on the evening of July 16 at Railpathri, a critical section along the Baltal trail that leads to the holy cave shrine. Four pilgrims were caught in the debris and swept down the slope. While three were injured and taken to the hospital at Baltal base camp, one pilgrim, identified as Sona Bai from Rajasthan, was declared dead on arrival. Her tragic passing has increased the death toll for this year’s pilgrimage to fifteen.Authorities acted swiftly the following morning. No new batches of pilgrims were allowed to proceed from the Jammu base camp or from the twin routes of Baltal and Pahalgam. Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Vijay Kumar Bhiduri confirmed the suspension and explained that the heavy rainfall over the last two days had made restoration efforts on both routes essential. Teams from the Border Roads Organisation and Mountain Rescue Forces have been deployed
to assist with clearing the tracks and providing safe passage for stranded pilgrims.
Despite the halt, pilgrims who had already reached the Panjtarni halt point on Wednesday night were permitted to descend toward Baltal under supervision and support. These movements are being carefully managed to prevent further risks, and teams have been working around the clock to assess and stabilise the affected sections of the yatra routes.
There is hope that the pilgrimage will resume soon. Officials have stated that if the weather improves and the path is declared safe, the yatra may restart on Friday. However, this will depend entirely on weather conditions and track clearance updates over the next 24 hours.
This is the first time this season that the yatra has been paused from the Jammu camp. The pilgrimage, which began on July 3, has already seen over 2.47 lakh pilgrims offer their prayers at the holy cave located at an altitude of 3,880 metres. More than one lakh yatris have departed from Jammu since the Lieutenant Governor flagged off the first batch earlier this month. The total number of registered pilgrims this year has already crossed four lakh, indicating a high level of enthusiasm and devotion despite challenging conditions.
The Amarnath Yatra, a 38-day spiritual journey, is scheduled to conclude on August 9, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan. The cave shrine houses a naturally formed ice lingam, believed by devotees to represent Lord Shiva, making it one of the most revered sites in Hinduism.
Officials have urged all pilgrims to stay updated with the latest weather alerts and follow the directions issued by local authorities. While the administration is doing its best to restore normal operations, they have stressed the importance of caution and cooperation for the safety of all involved.
As Kashmir continues to deal with unpredictable monsoon weather, this incident serves as a reminder of the importance of preparedness and timely response in high-altitude pilgrimage zones. The hope remains that once the weather stabilises, devotees will once again be able to complete this cherished spiritual journey.
For more travel updates, safety tips, and stories from across India, follow Travel Moves on Instagram and Facebook.
