Amarnath Yatra suspended 4th day; 2,800 stranded at Pahalgam amid heavy rain
Synopsis
For the fourth straight day, Amarnath Yatra is at a standstill — and with IMD's six-day warning running through 24 July, no quick resumption is in sight. Over 2,800 pilgrims wait at Pahalgam, thousands more are dispersed across Jammu transit camps, and 3.91 lakh have already made the pilgrimage since 3 July. The clock is ticking on a 57-day Yatra that must conclude by 28 August.
Key Takeaways
Amarnath Yatra remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day on 22 July due to heavy rain, flash floods, and cloudbursts in Jammu and Kashmir .
All major J&K pilgrimages — Mata Vaishno Devi , Shiv Khori , and Machail Mata Yatra — are also suspended.
Approximately 2,800 pilgrims are stranded at Nandiwan-Pahalgam in Anantnag district; around 6,000 are at transit camps in Jammu.
Over 2,000 pilgrims have left for their home states amid the continuing disruption.
IMD's six-day adverse weather forecast covers 19 to 24 July , keeping resumption uncertain.
3.91 lakh pilgrims have visited the holy cave since the Yatra began on 3 July ; it is scheduled to conclude on 28 August .
The Amarnath Yatra remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, 22 July, as heavy rainfall, flash floods, and cloudbursts continued to batter Jammu and Kashmir. All devotees lodged at transit camps and base camps in Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam) were reported safe, officials confirmed.
All Major Yatras in J&K Halted
The suspension covers every major religious pilgrimage in the union territory. The Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra from Katra, the Shiv Khori Yatra in Reasi, and the Machail Mata Yatra in Kishtwar all remain halted alongside the Amarnath Yatra — marking the fourth straight day of disruption. The UT administration had pre-emptively suspended all Yatras on the evening of Saturday, 19 July, acting on a six-day inclement weather forecast issued by the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) covering 19 to 24 July.
The twin routes to the holy cave — the Baltal track in Ganderbal district of Central Kashmir and the Nandiwan-Pahalgam track in Anantnag district of South Kashmir — were both shut from the evening of 18 July. Authorities have directed pilgrims not to proceed until official clearance is issued.
Where Pilgrims Are Stranded
The scale of disruption is significant. Approximately 2,800 pilgrims remain stranded at Nandiwan-Pahalgam in Anantnag district, awaiting the reopening of the track for darshan at the holy cave. In Jammu, around 6,000 pilgrims are accommodated at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas and the adjoining Asha Ram Bapu Ashram, though over 2,000 Amarnath-bound pilgrims have already departed for their home states given the persistent rainfall.
Additionally, 438 pilgrims are at Yatri Niwas Pantha Chowk in Srinagar, 134 at Baltal in Ganderbal district, and 458 at Yatri Niwas Chanderkot in Ramban district. A further 250 Sadhus are sheltered at Geeta Bhawan Jammu and 200 at Ram Mandir, Purani Mandi. Various philanthropic organisations have set up Langars to provide free meals to stranded pilgrims.
Partial Movement on Earlier Days
While Wednesday saw a complete halt, authorities had permitted limited movement on earlier days. Pilgrims stranded at Panchtarni — the last halting station on the Pahalgam track — were allowed to proceed for darshan on 19 July, and those at Baltal Base Camp were cleared on 20 July. Officials confirmed that almost all pilgrims stranded at Baltal were permitted to leave for darshan on Tuesday; however, no pilgrim from Nunwan was cleared to move ahead due to continuing inclement conditions.
Notably, a symbolic Chhari Yatra was conducted to Sarthal Mata Shrine from Kishtwar on Tuesday to mark the birthday of the Goddess, even as the broader pilgrimage network remained shut.
Yatra Progress and Culmination Date
Despite the current disruption, the pilgrimage has recorded substantial footfall since it commenced. A total of 3.91 lakh pilgrims have visited the holy cave of Shri Amarnath Ji in the 21 days since the Yatra began on 3 July. The 57-day-long Yatra to the cave of Baba Barfani, situated at an altitude of 3,888 metres, is scheduled to culminate on Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan on 28 August.
The IMD forecast extends through 24 July, meaning further suspension days remain possible before any resumption is officially sanctioned.
Point of View
The logistical burden on the UT administration is considerable. What is less discussed is the compressing window: the Yatra must conclude by 28 August, and each suspended day raises the risk of dangerous overcrowding once tracks reopen. The administration's proactive suspension call deserves credit, but the broader question of whether pilgrimage infrastructure can absorb multi-day weather halts at this scale — with 3.91 lakh already having visited in 21 days — remains unanswered.
NationPress
22 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the Amarnath Yatra suspended?
The Amarnath Yatra has been suspended since the evening of 18 July due to heavy rainfall, flash floods, and cloudbursts across Jammu and Kashmir. The UT administration acted on a six-day adverse weather forecast from the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD) covering 19 to 24 July.
How many pilgrims are stranded and where?
Approximately 2,800 pilgrims are stranded at Nandiwan-Pahalgam in Anantnag district, around 6,000 are at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas and Asha Ram Bapu Ashram in Jammu, and smaller groups are at Yatri Niwas Pantha Chowk in Srinagar, Baltal, and Yatri Niwas Chanderkot in Ramban. All are reported safe.
When will the Amarnath Yatra resume?
No official resumption date has been announced. The IMD's adverse weather forecast extends through 24 July, and authorities have directed pilgrims not to move until official clearance is issued.
Which other Yatras in J&K are suspended?
All major religious pilgrimages in Jammu and Kashmir are suspended, including the Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra from Katra, the Shiv Khori Yatra in Reasi, and the Machail Mata Yatra in Kishtwar. All were halted on the evening of 18 July alongside the Amarnath Yatra.
When does the Amarnath Yatra 2025 end?
The 57-day Amarnath Yatra is scheduled to culminate on Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan on 28 August. A total of 3.91 lakh pilgrims have visited the holy cave since the Yatra began on 3 July.
