The annual Amarnath Yatra has officially resumed following a two-day suspension caused by severe rainfall and subsequent damage to the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44). Authorities announced the reopening of the crucial highway for limited vehicular movement, clearing the path for thousands of pilgrims eager to continue their journey to the sacred Amarnath cave shrine.
Early on Sunday, a fresh contingent of 3,886 pilgrims commenced their journey from the Bhagwati Nagar base camp in Jammu. This 25th batch of devotees departed at 2:52 AM in a convoy of 177 vehicles, traveling under stringent security measures towards the Baltal base camp in Ganderbal district. The 57-day pilgrimage, which began on July 3, is scheduled to conclude on August 28. So far, over 4.50 lakh pilgrims have paid their respects at the 3,880-meter-high shrine in the Kashmir Himalayas.
Highway Reopens for Restricted Movement
The pilgrimage from Jammu had been halted on Saturday due to incessant rainfall that caused significant damage to multiple sections of the 250-km Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, particularly between Jhakani in Udhampur and Banihal in Ramban. Officials confirmed that the most severely affected stretch, located near Dewal Bridge in the Samroli area of Udhampur, has now been restored for single-carriage traffic.
While repair operations are still ongoing, light motor vehicles were granted permission to travel from Jammu on Sunday morning, marking the end of the two-day closure. Traffic moving from Qazigund towards Jammu will be permitted to resume once the Amarnath Yatra convoy has passed through the area. Heavy motor vehicles, however, will continue to operate only on alternate days, according to official directives.
Restoration Efforts Underway
Deputy Inspector General of Police for the Udhampur-Reasi Range, Shiv Kumar Sharma, personally visited the Samroli area near Dewal Bridge on Saturday. He inspected the debris clearance and restoration work being carried out by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) using heavy earth-moving machinery. DIG Sharma emphasized the urgency of accelerating debris removal while ensuring the safety of all workers involved in the operation.
The officer also engaged with local residents impacted by the highway closure, reassuring them that the police, NHAI, and district administration are working collaboratively to restore normal traffic flow as swiftly as possible. Commuters are advised by traffic police to consult the latest road and traffic updates before embarking on their journeys, as further rainfall is anticipated in the coming days.