Jammu Kashmir suspends Amarnath, Vaishno Devi pilgrimages

Authorities in Jammu and Kashmir have suspended the annual Amarnath Yatra and pilgrimages to the Mata Vaishno Devi and Shiv Khori shrines as a precautionary measure due to forecasts of widespread heavy rainfall across the region. The suspension took effect on Sunday, July 19, 2026, halting all fresh movement of pilgrims from base camps.

The decision was made following an advisory from the India Meteorological Department predicting moderate to widespread rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir from July 19 to 23. Officials said the suspension is intended to ensure the safety and well-being of thousands of devotees, citing risks from landslides, slippery tracks, and other weather-related hazards along the mountainous pilgrimage routes.

For the Amarnath Yatra, no onward movement of pilgrims is being permitted from the Baltal and Nunwan-Chandanwari base camps in Kashmir or from the Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu. Both the traditional Pahalgam route and the shorter Baltal route to the holy cave shrine, situated at 3,880 metres above sea level, are closed for ascent. The pilgrimages to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra and the Shri Shiv Khori shrine in Reasi district have also been...