The Amarnath Yatra started on July 3 this year. It drew a huge response from devotees, more than a year after the tragic terror attack in Pahalgam. However, the pilgrimage now faces a new challenge. News reports show that the sacred ice lingam, known as Baba Barfani, has melted by over 90 percent just days after the Yatra began.
The Amarnath Cave Shrine sits at about 3,888 meters (12,756 feet) in the Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir’s Anantnag district. It rests beneath the Lidder Valley. Pilgrims can reach the shrine through the traditional 48-kilometer Pahalgam route or the shorter but steeper 14-kilometer Baltal route.
Strong Pilgrim Turnout
The Jammu and Kashmir administration celebrated the record number of devotees. Yet many locals expressed worry about the rapid melting of the ice lingam. PDP leader Iltija Mufti voiced strong concern on social media platform X.
Mufti blamed climate change for the early melt. She pointed to factors such as reckless tree cutting, illegal mining, poor waste management, and falling water levels. “Only a week into the Amarnath Yatra, and the naturally formed lingam has already melted,” she wrote. Moreover, she added that the environment has become a victim of Kashmir’s politics and holds no political value.
Mufti called for a long-term sustainable environmental and tourism policy. She suggested learning from Bhutan to protect the mountains, rivers, and glaciers. Otherwise, she warned, Kashmir could lose its essence.
Many early pilgrims confirmed the melting through interviews and social media posts. This situation has revived an ongoing debate. Does climate change cause faster melting each year? Additionally, do rising pilgrim numbers and growing infrastructure harm the fragile Himalayan ecosystem?
Record Footfall Raises Questions
This year’s Yatra began under tight security after the April 2025 Pahalgam attack that killed 26 civilians. Despite the risks, pilgrim numbers surged sharply. Over 93,000 devotees visited the shrine in the first four days. For instance, more than 32,000 offered prayers by July 5, and over 20,000 arrived on the second day alone. This marked one of the highest second-day attendances in recent years.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who leads the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board, called it a massive surge compared to previous years. However, he raised concerns about unregistered pilgrims. Thousands arrived without required health certificates or RFID registration. These arrivals strained security and infrastructure, he noted. The Board limits daily pilgrims to 10,000 on each route.
Official Response
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah addressed the melting issue. He reminded people that the Supreme Court already sets a cap on pilgrim numbers. “The ice lingam forms naturally,” he stated. “Neither you nor I can control how long it lasts.”
Climate Change and Environmental Impact
Scientists warn that the Himalayas warm faster than many other mountain ranges. Rising temperatures, shifting snowfall, and retreating glaciers appear clearly in Jammu and Kashmir. Reports highlighted unusually warm conditions near the cave and surrounding glaciers as a key reason for the quick melt. Even small temperature rises, combined with humidity changes inside the cave, affect the ice formation.
Over the past two decades, authorities widened roads, added temporary shelters, moved community kitchens closer, and introduced electricity and solar power. Heavy machinery improved access, and the government recently approved a ropeway project. Talks continue about a tunnel between Sheshnag and Panchtarni. These developments make the journey safer and easier for pilgrims. Yet they may also change the cave’s delicate microclimate.
This early melting is not new. Historical data shows the lingam lasted only 29 days in 2018, 38 days in 2020, 28 days in 2022, and about a week in 2024. This year, it shrank even faster.
The Amarnath Yatra continues to attract thousands of faithful devotees. At the same time, the shrinking ice lingam highlights the urgent need to balance faith, tourism, and environmental protection in this sacred Himalayan region.