Landslide claimed the life of an Amarnath pilgrim on Thursday, while three others were injured in Kashmir. The Yatra has been suspended following an adverse weather advisory. This marks the first time that the ongoing Amarnath Yatra has been suspended from all stations across Jammu and Kashmir due to heavy rainfall and landslides at various points along the route to the holy cave.
A landslide on the Amarnath Yatra route occurred on the evening of July 16, 2025, in Rail Pathri area of Ganderbal district in central Kashmir, along the Baltal route. Heavy rainfall triggered the landslide, resulting in the death of a 55-year-old female pilgrim from Rajasthan, identified as Sona Bai, and injuring three others. The injured were quickly taken to the hospital at the Baltal base camp for treatment, and their condition is reported to be stable.
Amarnath Yatra Suspended
Due to continuous heavy rainfall and the associated safety concerns, the Amarnath Yatra has been suspended on Thursday from Jammu, Pahalgam, and Baltal until weather conditions improve. No new groups of pilgrims are being allowed to proceed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu or from the Baltal and Pahalgam routes in Kashmir. However, pilgrims already at the cave will be permitted to return to the base camps along both routes.
The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) worked swiftly to clear debris in the Rail Pathri area, allowing the yatra to partially resume after initial disruptions. Nevertheless, the decision to suspend the yatra on July 17 was made to prioritise the safety of pilgrims amid ongoing weather-related challenges.
“Due to the continuous rain over the last couple of days, urgent repair and maintenance work is required on the tracks. Therefore, it has been decided that no movement shall be allowed toward the Holy Cave from the two base camps today,” said officials.
Officials Closely Monitoring The Situation
However, yatris who stayed at the Panjtarni camp during the preceding night are being allowed to proceed down to Baltal under adequate deployment of BRO and Mountain Rescue Teams. “The Yatra is expected to resume on Friday, depending on the weather conditions throughout the day,” said Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Vijay Kumar Bidhuri.
Disruptions also occurred on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) due to landslides and slow traffic; however, the road has since been cleared by light machinery.
Officials are closely monitoring the situation, and the yatra is expected to resume once there is an improvement in weather conditions and the routes are deemed safe. Pilgrims are advised to follow the official guidance of the Shri Amarnath Ji Shrine Board (jksasb.nic.in) or contact the joint police control rooms located in Pahalgam and Baltal for assistance.
The Amarnath Yatra, which began on July 3, 2025, and is scheduled to conclude on August 9, 2025, has seen over 247,313 pilgrims visit the holy cave temple in its first 16 days.
IMD Issues Red Alert
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert for the next 24 hours, indicating that heavy to very heavy rainfall is expected in Kashmir starting at midnight. An active western disturbance combined with monsoonal winds is likely to bring widespread rainfall across the region, with southern Kashmir anticipated to receive the highest rainfall. Light to moderate rain is expected in central and northern Kashmir, with heavy rain possible at certain locations.
