Kumar Bahukhandi
Pilgrims, accompanied by security personnel, resume their journey towards the Amarnath cave shrine after the annual pilgrimage restarted following a six-day suspension caused by adverse weather conditions.-Photo Credit-channel24india.com via PTI
In Short
- Amarnath Yatra resumes after a six-day suspension due to bad weather.
- 6,269 pilgrims departed from Jammu in the 18th batch.
- Convoy included 1,470 women, 25 children, and 54 sadhus.
- Pilgrims travelled in 223 escorted vehicles under tight security.
- Only the Baltal route was opened; no convoy was sent via the Pahalgam route.
- The pilgrimage resumed after weather improved and the Jammu–Srinagar Highway reopened.
- Nearly four lakh devotees have visited the holy shrine this year.
- The pilgrimage will conclude on August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
Pilgrimage Restarts as Weather Improves and Jammu–Srinagar Highway Reopens
The annual Amarnath Yatra resumed on Saturday July 25, 2026 after remaining suspended for six days due to adverse weather conditions, with a fresh batch of 6,269 pilgrims departing from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for the Baltal base camp in Kashmir under tight security arrangements.
Officials said the 18th batch of pilgrims included 1,470 women, 25 children, and 54 sadhus, travelling in a convoy of 223 vehicles that left around 2:40 a.m.
The pilgrimage had been suspended on July 19 as a precaution following persistent rainfall, landslides, and difficult weather conditions along both the traditional 48-km Pahalgam route in Anantnag district and the shorter 14-km Baltal route in Ganderbal district leading to the 3,880-metre-high holy cave shrine.
No convoy was dispatched via the Pahalgam route on Saturday, with authorities allowing movement only through the Baltal route after weather conditions improved.
The resumption follows the reopening of the Jammu–Srinagar National Highway, which had remained closed for three days due to landslides and shooting stones along the Udhampur–Ramban stretch.
The pilgrimage was formally flagged off by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp on July 2, a day before devotees began the annual journey to the holy cave shrine.
Officials said that nearly four lakh devotees have visited the shrine so far this year, while approximately 1.20 lakh pilgrims have commenced their journey from the Jammu base camp.
The Amarnath Yatra 2026 is scheduled to conclude on August 28, coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan.
