Jammu & Kashmir, July 25: The annual Amarnath Yatra resumed on Saturday after remaining suspended for six days due to heavy rainfall and adverse weather conditions. A fresh batch of pilgrims departed from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu for the Kashmir Valley under security arrangements.
The Jammu and Kashmir administration had suspended the pilgrimage on July 19 on both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes following a warning issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD) regarding heavy rainfall across the Union Territory.
The convoy of pilgrims left the Jammu base camp early on Saturday morning and crossed Udhampur en route to the Kashmir Valley. Authorities have permitted pilgrims travelling from the Jammu base camp to proceed only through the Baltal route, while the Pahalgam route continues to remain closed due to prevailing track conditions caused by the weather.
The decision to resume the pilgrimage was taken after the authorities reviewed the weather forecast and assessed the condition of the Yatra tracks.
The 57-day Amarnath Yatra commenced on July 3 and is scheduled to conclude on August 28 on the occasion of Raksha Bandhan. Every year, thousands of devotees from different parts of the country undertake the pilgrimage to the holy cave shrine in south Kashmir.
Meanwhile, continuous rainfall has affected normal life in Doda district, leading to the temporary closure of the Doda–Pul Doda Road and the Pul Doda–Ghat Government Medical College Road. Several link roads have also been blocked.
Deputy Commissioner Doda, Krishan Lal, said the administration is monitoring the situation as rivers and streams across the district continue to witness an increase in water levels. He said residents living near riverbanks were shifted to safer locations after water levels rose. According to the district administration, 56 interior roads remain closed due to continuous rainfall, while restoration work is in progress.
In Ramban district, the water level in the Jhelum River has increased following heavy rainfall. Authorities have also opened multiple gates of the Baglihar Hydroelectric Power Project dam to regulate the inflow of water.