In just fifteen days since the commencement of the annual Amarnath pilgrimage on July 3, nearly 2.51 lakh devotees have visited the sacred cave shrine, according to the Jammu and Kashmir Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR).
Steady Influx of Devotees
Officials noted that 5,110 pilgrims performed darshan at the holy site by 2 PM on Thursday alone. Devotees from across India and abroad have been participating in the Yatra with deep devotion. Many have praised the arrangements made for their comfort and the smooth conduct of the pilgrimage.
However, the continuous rainfall over the last two days forced the authorities to temporarily suspend the pilgrimage from both the Pahalgam and Baltal base camps. Officials stated that this was done as a safety measure due to the weather-affected conditions of the trekking routes.
Precautionary Suspension Due to Rainfall
“Persistent rain has necessitated urgent repair and maintenance on the Yatra tracks. As a result, movement from both base camps to the holy cave has been suspended for the day,” said Divisional Commissioner Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri.
He further added that pilgrims already stationed at Panchtarni were being allowed to descend toward Baltal under the guidance of security forces, BRO, and mountain rescue teams. The Yatra is likely to resume tomorrow, weather permitting.
Record Turnout Expected Despite Challenges
On Wednesday, Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah voiced optimism for a record turnout in the Amarnath Yatra, despite earlier concerns following the terror attack in Pahalgam this April.
"The Yatra runs until August 9. After the attack, it seemed turnout would drop. But reaching 2.5 lakh is significant. If this pace continues, we might cross 3 to 3.5 lakh," he stated. The Amarnath Yatra is a 38-day spiritual pilgrimage that takes devotees to the sacred shrine of Lord Shiva, situated at an altitude of 3,880 metres in South Kashmir.
