9000 perform darshan, total reaches 2.56 lakh
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 17: Though Amarnath Yatra was suspended today due to heavy rain in the Valley for the last 36 hours from Baltal and Nunwan tracks, 9200 pilgrims who had a night halt at Panchtarni and lower cave paid obeisance at cave shrine by this evening, officials said.
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With this, a total number of 2,56,233 pilgrims offered prayers at 3880 metre high Himalayan cave in South Kashmir during last 15 days of darshan since over one month long holy pilgrimage started on July 3 from twin tracks of Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam.
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Officials said heavy rainfall triggered landslide near Railpathri on Baltal track late last night disrupting the yatra forcing the authorities to suspend the pilgrimage from this track.
They said the track clearance is going on war footing as men and machinery are on the job since yesterday. The jawans of security forces and SDRF have also been deployed to meet any eventuality, officials added.
They said the weather had improved during the day that facilitated yatris staying at Panchtarni and lower cave to leave for darshan.
A weather advisory warned of more heavy rain in parts of Jammu and Kashmir.
Among the 9020 pilgrims who performed darshan today were 6354 males, 2232 females, 132 children, 112, Sadhus, 12 Sadhvis, two transgenders and 185 security personnel.
“Shri Amarnathji Yatra has been suspended for 17.07.2025 from both Pahalgam and Baltal base camps. Continuous heavy rains over the last two days have necessitated restoration work to be carried out on tracks along both routes,” Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Vijay Kumar Bhiduri said.
“However, yatris who stayed at Panchtarni camp last night are being allowed to proceed down to Baltal with adequate deployment of BRO and Mountain Rescue Teams,” he said.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has made heavy deployment of men and machinery on the tracks to complete the work so that the yatra can be resumed from both Baltal and Pahalgam base camps, Bhiduri said.
“In all likelihood, the yatra shall resume tomorrow (Friday), depending on the weather conditions during the course of the day,” he said.
Another official said that a weather advisory for two-days has warned of heavy rains in Jammu and Kashmir, including on the yatra routes in Kashmir.
This is the first time the yatra has been suspended from Jammu this year.
A total of 1,01,553 pilgrims have departed from the Jammu base camp for the Valley since July 2, when Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha flagged off the first batch.
More than 4 lakh people have registered online for the pilgrimage so far.
Last year, more than 5.10 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance at the cave shrine, which houses a naturally formed ice lingam.
The 38-day pilgrimage will conclude on August 9.
Following the suspension of yatra from Baltal route, yatra from Jammu to twin base camps of Baltal and Nunwan Pahalgam was also suspended and no Yatri vehicle was allowed to leave for Kashmir, officials said.
They said 5874 Amarnath Ji bound pilgrims are stranded at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas. Among them 2389 pilgrims had to leave via Baltal track while 3485 had to proceed for Nunwan Pahalgam track, officials said.
Meanwhile, thousands of pilgrims continued to reach here from different parts of the country and there are about 15,000 yatris and Sadhus at various community halls, lodgements and temples, officials said.
The Government has made elaborate arrangements for the stranded pilgrims including their boarding and lodging as well as free Langar. Hundreds of Sadhus are putting up at Ram Mandir Purani Mandi and Geeta Bhawan Jammu also and the stranded pilgrims will leave for twin base camps tomorrow provided weather improves.
Meanwhile, one Anil Kumar a devotee has come all the way from Bihar on roller skaters to perform darshan at holy cave. He is travelling via National Highway and reached Qazigund today.
In his message, he appealed people to come in large numbers to have pilgrimage as the people in Kashmir have great hospitality and the Government has also made elaborate arrangements for the pilgrims.
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