Amarnath, Vaishnodevi, Shiv Khori And Chardham Yatras Halted Amid Heavy Rains Across Himalayan States

Major Himalayan pilgrimages, including the Amarnath Yatra, Mata Vaishnodevi Yatra, Shiv Khori pilgrimage and Uttarakhand’s Chardham Yatra, remained suspended on Monday as authorities prioritised pilgrim safety amid continuous heavy rainfall, landslide risks and adverse weather forecasts.

In Jammu and Kashmir, the Shri Amarnath Ji Yatra was suspended for the second consecutive day following an inclement weather forecast issued by the Meteorological Department. The administration stopped the movement of vehicles carrying pilgrims from Jammu, Udhampur and Ramban towards Srinagar, while devotees were advised to remain at base camps and lodging facilities until further orders.

Hundreds of pilgrims remained stranded at various locations, including Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Ramban and Banihal, with security arrangements strengthened along highways to prevent movement towards Kashmir routes. The suspension was enforced on both major Amarnath routes, Baltal and Pahalgam, due to concerns over slippery tracks, landslides and flash flood risks.

The Mata Vaishnodevi Yatra in Reasi district also remained suspended for the second day, with police making announcements at the Katra base camp that no pilgrim would be allowed to proceed towards the Bhawan until weather conditions improve. The Shri Shiv Khori shrine pilgrimage was also halted in view of heavy rain forecasts in the Ransoo area, with the shrine board advising devotees to postpone travel.

In Uttarakhand, the Chardham Yatra was temporarily suspended after continuous rainfall, landslides and IMD red and orange alerts raised safety concerns along pilgrimage routes. Authorities halted movement towards Kedarnath, Badrinath, Gangotri and Yamunotri and said the decision was taken as a precautionary measure.

The weather department has forecast moderate to widespread rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir between July 19 and 24. Officials said the pilgrimages will resume only after weather conditions improve and routes are declared safe.