Surinder Sharma
Jammu August 3: The annual Amarnath Yatra has been called off a week ahead of schedule due to extensive damage to the pilgrimage routes caused by heavy rainfall. Originally slated to continue until August 9, the yatra was officially halted on August 3.
Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir, Vijay Kumar Bidhuri, confirmed that both the Baltal and Pahalgam routes have suffered significant damage due to incessant rains. “Repair work is required on both paths. Due to the deployment of heavy machinery and personnel for restoration efforts, it is not feasible to resume the yatra,” he stated.
The pilgrimage began on July 3 and was scheduled to conclude on August 9, coinciding with the festival of Raksha Bandhan. As of now, over 4.10 lakh pilgrims have visited the sacred Amarnath Cave. In comparison, more than 5.10 lakh pilgrims participated in the yatra last year.
The 2024 yatra spanned 52 days, while previous durations were 62 days in 2023, 43 days in 2022, and 46 days in 2019. The yatra was suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
In 2023, approximately 4.5 lakh devotees took part, while in 2022, the number stood at 3 lakh, affected by post-pandemic conditions. The highest recorded footfall was in 2012, when 6.35 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine.
