With improving weather, officials have conducted safety checks and are allowing devotees to proceed. Currently, pilgrims departing from the Jammu base camp can only use the Baltal route, which has been deemed safe. Meanwhile, the Pahalgam route remains closed as adverse weather continues to impact that area.
Officials are keeping a close watch on the weather and road conditions to ensure a safe journey for all. Pilgrims have been advised to adhere to all official instructions throughout the Yatra.
As reported by PTI, the weather previously made both the 48 km Pahalgam route in Anantnag and the 14 km Baltal route in Ganderbal unsafe for those traveling to the 3880-meter-high Amarnath cave. Following the improvement in conditions, the 18th batch of 6,269 pilgrims, which includes 1,470 women, 25 children, and 54 sadhus, departed for the Baltal base camp. The convoy, consisting of 223 vehicles, began its journey at approximately 2:40 am under strict security measures.
This year’s Amarnath Yatra is set to conclude on August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan. To date, nearly four lakh devotees have visited the sacred cave, with around 1.2 lakh pilgrims starting their journey from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu.
Persistent heavy rainfall has also led to the temporary closure of the Doda Pul Doda Road, Pul Doda Ghat GMC Road, and various other link roads.
Doda Deputy Commissioner Krishan Lal indicated that the administration is monitoring the situation closely, as rivers and streams in the district are flowing at alarmingly high levels. As a precautionary measure, residents near these rivers have been relocated to safer areas following the rise in water levels.
Additionally, he noted that 56 internal roads in the district remain closed due to the heavy rains, with teams actively working to reopen them as quickly as possible.
