Ganderbal: The Amarnath Yatra was suspended on Thursday due to heavy rains in Ganderbal district’s Baltal, causing a mudslide in the area. A dramatic video of the mudslide along the Baltal route also surfaced online. The viral video shows two pilgrims being swept away in the strong current of muddy water.
However, they were reportedly rescued by other pilgrims. In the visuals, a large number of devotees were seen standing during the pilgrimage.
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) and SDRF teams have been deployed in the area to rescue the stranded pilgrims. The Border Road Organisation (BRO) is also working to restore the yatra route.
Video Of The Incident:
Meanwhile, a woman devotee was killed by a shooting stone along the Baltal route in Ganderbal district, reported NDTV. Three other devotees were also reportedly injured in the landslide.
The Yatra has been suspended for Thursday from both Pahalgam and Baltal base camps due to incessant rainfall for the past two days, officials said, as reported by ANI.
"Due to the continuous rains over the last couple of days, urgent repair and maintenance works are required to be carried out on the tracks. Therefore, it has been decided that no movement shall be allowed towards the Holy Cave from the two base camps today," Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri said as quoted by the news agency.
The pilgrimage is expected to resume tomorrow, depending on the weather conditions," he added.
So far, over 2.47 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the Holy Cave Shrine during the Shri Amarnathji Yatra 2025, according to the Department of Information & Public Relations (DIPR) Kashmir. The pilgrimage began on July 3.
The pilgrimage has two routes - Pahalgam and Baltal.
The Pahalgam route is the traditional path that covers a distance of around 48 kilometres, starting from Pahalgam. It offers a scenic yet longer trek, passing through places like Chandanwari, Sheshnag, and Panchatarni before reaching the cave. Meanwhile, the Baltal route is a shorter yet steeper route of about 14 kilometres, starting from Baltal.
Every year, thousands of devotees undertake this spiritual journey to seek blessings from Lord Shiva, whose naturally formed ice Shivling is worshipped in the Amarnath Temple located in Jammu and Kashmir.
