A police official present as NDRF personnel conduct a search operation for a missing Jal Shakti employee Abdul Ghani, who was deployed at a pumping station at Plangarh village when the floods hit on 19th July, in Rajouri district, Jammu and Kashmir, Saturday (July 25, 2026).
| Photo Credit: PTI
Amid the inclement weather, the Amarnath Yatra resumed from the Baltal axis in central Kashmir on Saturday (July 25, 2026) after a six-day halt. Meanwhile, the pilgrimage also resumed at the Mata Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu.
Officials said a fresh batch of 6,269 pilgrims arrived at the Baltal base camp in Kashmir in a convoy of 223 vehicles.
“Due to the recent rains, urgent repair and maintenance works are required to be carried out on the Pahalgam Axis of Shri Amarnathji Yatra. The Yatra shall continue through the Baltal Axis, for which adequate arrangements have been put in place to ensure a smooth and safe pilgrimage,” Divisional Commissioner of Kashmir Anshul Garg, said.
The Amarnath Yatra has twin routes in central and south Kashmir. The Pahalgam route is the longer trek (32 km) compared to the Baltal route (14 km), where pilgrims return in one day after visiting the cave shrine.
Nearly four lakh pilgrims have so far paid obeisance at the holy cave shrine this year so far.
“The recent rains have caused conditions requiring urgent repair and restoration works along the Pahalgam route. To ensure the uninterrupted continuation of the Yatra, comprehensive arrangements have been made on the Baltal axis for the safe and smooth movement of pilgrims,” Mr. Garg said.
Officials said the pilgrimage resumed at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra too in Katra in Jammu division, after remaining suspended for six consecutive days due to adverse weather conditions.
Over 22 dead
Meanwhile, a woman was killed and two other members were injured in a house collapse, triggered by incessant rainfall, in Bhattian area of Thanamandi in Rajouri.
The deceased was identified as Sahida Parveen, 45. Over 22 people have died due to landslides and flash floods in J&K since July 19.
Published – July 25, 2026 09:58 pm IST
