Amarnath and Vaishno Devi Pilgrimages Halted Amid Torrential Rains in Jammu & Kashmir

For the first time this season, the holy treks to Amarnath and Vaishno Devi have been put on hold. A spell of relentless, heavy rain that has lashed the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir over the past few days forced officials to suspend the pilgrimages until the weather clears.

According to the Jammu & Kashmir administration, several landslides have already blocked key approach roads – the National Highway 1A towards Katra and the treacherous mountain tracks that lead to the Amarnath glacier. The authorities say the situation is “dangerous for both pilgrims and rescue teams,” and that a further deterioration could turn fatal.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board echoed the sentiment, announcing that the Vaishno Devi Yatra, which usually sees a surge of devotees from early May, will remain suspended until a clear forecast is assured. A statement from the board stressed that “the safety of pilgrims is our top priority, and we will not permit movement on the unsafe routes.”

Local police have also issued an advisory urging would‑be trekkers to stay put and avoid venturing into the hills. A handful of pilgrims who were already on the trail have been ferried back to base camps, while others are stranded at temporary shelters awaiting safe passage.

Tourism officials estimate that roughly 2,000 pilgrims were on the Amarnath route and about 3,500 on the Vaishno Devi trail when the rains intensified. The suspension is expected to cost the region a sizable dip in pilgrimage‑related revenue, but officials say no amount of money is worth a loss of life.

When asked about the timeline for resumption, the chief minister’s office said they are closely monitoring meteorological updates and will issue a fresh green signal as soon as the landslides are cleared and road conditions deemed stable.

Meanwhile, relief teams remain on standby, equipped with rescue gear and medical supplies, ready to act if the weather takes a turn for the worse. For now, the mountains of Jammu and Kashmir remain shrouded in mist, and the chants of devotion are replaced by the steady drumming of rain on the peaks.