Pilgrimages to Amarnath, Vaishno Devi and Shiv Khori Halt for Second Day Amid Torrential Rains

For the second straight day the holy treks to Amarnath, Mata Vaishno Devi and the Shiv Khori cave have been put on hold. The culprit? Unrelenting rain that’s turned the Himalayan foothills into a soggy mess.

Officials from the Amarnath Shrine Board have sounded the alarm, citing the latest meteorological bulletin from the India Meteorological Department (IMD). Their directive is simple – no vehicle carrying pilgrims may move beyond Jammu, Udhampur or Ramban towards Srinagar. Security personnel have been posted along the highway, effectively turning it into a standing‑room‑only zone for traffic.

Hundreds of devotees, many of them already exhausted from days of walking, are now stranded at a string of base camps and lodging centres spread across Jammu, Kathua, Samba, Udhampur, Ramban and Banihal. The atmosphere is a mix of patience and anxiety – some are scrolling through their phones for updates, others are simply waiting for the clouds to clear.

Over in Reasi district, the Vaishno Devi shrine’s Katra base camp has heard the same message over loudspeakers: “The yatra is suspended. No pilgrim will be allowed to move towards Bhawan.” Pilgrims who arrived in Katra are being asked to sit tight until conditions improve.

Not to be left out, the Shiv Khori Shrine Board has also issued an advisory. With the Ransoo area drenched and forecasts predicting more downpours, the board urges devotees to postpone travel until a further notice is issued. Safety, they stress, is the priority.

The rain started early Sunday, with sudden cloudbursts lashing forested stretches of Kashmir. The IMD warns of moderate to widespread rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir through July 24, meaning the weather could stay unpleasant for a while longer.

Authorities assure the public that they are monitoring the situation around the clock. Updates on when the pilgrimages might resume will be released once the routes are deemed safe and the weather shows signs of relenting.

In the meantime, those stuck at the camps are advised to stay warm, keep their essentials handy and stay tuned to official channels for the latest news.