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Although there has been a slight improvement in the weather conditions, the pilgrimages to the holy cave shrines of Shri Amarnath and Mata Vaishno Devi remained suspended for the sixth consecutive day as a precautionary measure.

More than 15,000 devotees are camping at different locations and are eagerly awaiting an improvement in the weather.

Apart from these two cave shrines, the yatras to the Shiv Khori shrine in Reasi district and the Machail Mata shrine in Kishtwar also remained suspended.

On July 18, following a weather forecast predicting heavy rain and thunderstorms, the authorities temporarily suspended the Shri Amarnath and Mata Vaishno Devi yatras.

The pilgrimages were halted as a precautionary measure to ensure the safety of devotees amid inclement weather. Pilgrims have been advised to stay updated through official channels regarding the resumption of the yatra.

The pilgrimages are expected to resume once weather conditions improve and the routes are declared safe for movement. Authorities are closely monitoring the situation.

An official said no onwards movement of yatris will be allowed from the Baltal and Nunwan/Chandanwari base camps until further orders. The yatra will resume only after the routes are declared safe following a comprehensive assessment of the weather conditions, the official added.

So far, more than 3.9 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance at the Holy Cave Shrine during the ongoing Shri Amarnathji Yatra.

This year’s yatra, which commenced on July 3, will conclude after 57 days on August 28, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

Sources said heavy rain lashed the entire yatra area on Friday as well, and the pilgrimage remained suspended on both the Baltal and Nunwan (Pahalgam) routes.

However, the 9,000 stranded pilgrims at Panchtarni, the last halting station en route to the Holy Cave via the Pahalgam track, were allowed to perform darshan on Sunday. Similarly, 6,000 pilgrims camping at the Baltal base camp were permitted to have darshan on Monday. Since then, no pilgrim has been allowed to proceed to the Holy Cave Shrine.

Sources said there are no pilgrims at the Holy Cave Shrine at present except langar volunteers, service providers, and personnel of the Jammu and Kashmir Armed Police (JKAP), Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP), Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), and the Army. A similar situation prevails at the Panchtarni and Sheshnag halting stations.

However, around 2,800 pilgrims are stranded at Pahalgam and Nunwan, while nearly 1,000 yatris are staying at Pantha Chowk Yatri Niwas in Srinagar, Chandanwari, Pahalgam in Kashmir Valley, and Chanderkote in Ramban district.

Officials said around 3,500 pilgrims are camping at Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu and the adjoining Asaram Bapu Ashram. They include 3,000 men and 500 women. These yatris are eager to leave for darshan as soon as the weather improves and the yatra resumes.

In addition, around 450 sadhus are stranded at Purani Mandi, Ram Mandir, and Geeta Bhawan in Jammu. Meanwhile, nearly 1,500 stranded pilgrims in Jammu have left for their home states after seeing no immediate improvement in the weather.