Srinagar, July 26, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Pilgrimages to the Amarnath cave shrine and Mata Vaishno Devi shrine resumed on Saturday after a six-day suspension caused by adverse weather conditions in Jammu and Kashmir, with thousands of devotees offering prayers on the first day of reopening.
Officials said over 4,000 pilgrims paid obeisance at the Amarnath cave shrine in south Kashmir, while around 18,000 devotees had darshan at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra. However, the pilgrimage to the Shiv Khori shrine in Reasi district remained suspended for the seventh consecutive day.
The pilgrimages had been halted on July 18 following the India Meteorological Department’s forecast of heavy rain between July 19 and July 24, which triggered landslides, shooting stones and disruption along key routes.
The Amarnath Yatra resumed after weather conditions improved and the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway was reopened. On Saturday, a convoy of 6,269 pilgrims in 223 vehicles departed from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu for the Baltal base camp under tight security. No convoy was dispatched for the Pahalgam route.
Authorities said the Baltal route remains operational, while the Pahalgam axis has been temporarily closed to facilitate repair and restoration work following damage caused by recent rainfall.
Since the 57-day Amarnath Yatra began on July 3, nearly four lakh pilgrims have visited the holy cave shrine. The annual pilgrimage is scheduled to conclude on August 28, coinciding with Raksha Bandhan.
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