Srinagar: After days of uncertainty caused by heavy rain and landslides, the Amarnath Yatra is back on track. Authorities on Saturday resumed the annual pilgrimage after weather conditions improved and key stretches of the route were declared safe, allowing thousands of devotees to continue their journey to the holy cave shrine.
The first batches of pilgrims began moving from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu under tight security. Officials said more than 6,000 yatris were allowed to proceed after road conditions were reviewed and safety inspections were completed. For now, the Baltal route has been reopened, while authorities continue to assess the Pahalgam route before restoring full movement.
The pilgrimage had come to a standstill earlier this week as relentless rainfall triggered landslides and blocked parts of the Jammu Srinagar National Highway. Many pilgrims were asked to remain at designated camps as the administration focused on clearing debris, repairing damaged stretches of road and ensuring that the routes were safe.
Teams from the Border Roads Organisation, disaster response agencies and the local administration worked round the clock to restore connectivity. Their efforts, coupled with an improvement in the weather, paved the way for the yatra to resume.
Despite the restart, officials have urged pilgrims to remain cautious. They have advised devotees to travel only in authorised convoys, keep track of official weather updates and strictly follow safety instructions, as weather in the Himalayan region can change without much warning during the monsoon.
Security arrangements continue to remain stringent, with police, paramilitary personnel and emergency response teams deployed along the pilgrimage routes. Medical facilities and rescue teams have also been kept on standby to deal with any emergency.
The Amarnath Yatra, one of India’s most significant annual pilgrimages, draws lakhs of devotees every year to the naturally formed ice Shivling inside the sacred cave, situated at an altitude of over 3,800 metres in south Kashmir. Pilgrims reach the shrine through either the shorter Baltal route or the traditional Pahalgam route, depending on weather conditions and administrative advisories.
For the thousands of devotees who had been anxiously waiting for the journey to restart, the reopening has come as a welcome relief. Even so, officials have made it clear that the pilgrimage will continue to be monitored closely, with daily decisions depending on weather forecasts and the condition of the routes.
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