Climate Change Or Pilgrim Rush? Baba Barfani Melts Over 90% Just 5 Days Into Amarnath Yatra 2026

Published 10 July 2026 · science

Climate Change Or Pilgrim Rush? Baba Barfani Melts Over 90% Just 5 Days Into Amarnath Yatra 2026 Published By, Last Updated: July 10, 2026, 16:59

Climate Change Or Pilgrim Rush? Baba Barfani Melts Over 90% Just 5 Days Into Amarnath Yatra 2026 Published By, Last Updated: July 10, 2026, 16:59 IST Scientists have repeatedly warned that the Himalayas are warming faster than many other mountain regions around the world. Rapid Read This year's Amarnath Yatra has witnessed a sharp increase in pilgrim turnout despite heightened security following last year's Pahalgam terror attack. Amarnath Yatra 2026: Every year, lakhs of devotees undertake the sacred Amarnath Yatra to seek the blessings of Lord Shiva at one of Hinduism’s holiest shrines. Nestled high in the Himalayas of Jammu and Kashmir, the Amarnath Cave is renowned for its naturally formed ice Shivling, believed to be a divine manifestation of Lord Shiva. The Amarnath Yatra 2026, which began on July 3, more than a year after the ghastly Pahalgam terror attack in April last year, has received an overwhelming response from devotees. But even as record numbers of pilgrims make their way to the holy cave shrine, the naturally formed ice lingam, revered as Baba Barfani, has reportedly melted by more than 90% within a week of the pilgrimage, reigniting concerns over its early disappearance. According to some news reports, the naturally formed ice lingam has almost disappeared just days into the 57-day Yatra. People on social media have also claimed that the Amarnath ice lingam shrunk just days into the pilgrimage in Jammu and Kashmir. Although the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board has not issued any official scientific assessment on the extent of the melting, the development has once again raised an important question: Why is the Amarnath ice lingam melting so early? Iltija Mufti Raises Concern Raising an alarm, and sharing images of the shrinking lingam, People’s Democratic Party (PDF) leader, Iltija Mufti, questioned the management of the pilgrimage during the Amarnath Yatra and sought intervention. In a post on X, Mufti blamed climate change on “mindlessly axing trees, illegal mining, waste mismanagement and dangerous depletion of water levels" as the factors behind such early melting of the Amarnath ice lingam.

“There’s been a sad acceleration of certain measures such as unnecessary construction, massive footfall of devotees & an ambitious ropeway project that could wreak havoc here. Amarnath Yatra is deeply intertwined with the ethos of Kashmiriyat & yatris are always welcome. But for this tradition to survive & continue I hope SASB treats this revered spot with more mindfulness & greater consideration," she said. Amarnath Shrine Board must consider that the site itself is precariously situated inside a cave surrounded by snow capped mountains & glaciers. A site of monumental significance for Hindus which has existed since the 12th century.But there’s been a sad acceleration of certain… pic.twitter.com/Knd1pzjyhS — Iltija Mufti (@IltijaMufti_) July 8, 2026 Many devotees who went in the initial batches of the yatra have told various news outlets about the melting of the ice Lingam. Many others have taken to social media to post about it. Is the Record Pilgrim Rush Responsible? This year’s Amarnath Yatra has witnessed a sharp increase in pilgrim turnout despite heightened security following last year’s Pahalgam terror attack. More than 93,000 devotees visited the shrine in the first four days, prompting authorities to ask unregistered pilgrims to wait for their turn. According to The Hindu, over 32,000 devotees had offered prayers by July 5, while over 20,000 pilgrims visited the shrine on the second day of the yatra alone. This was the highest second-day footfall in several years. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who also heads the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), described it as a “massive surge" compared to the previous four years. The administration, however, simultaneously expressed concern over thousands of unregistered pilgrims arriving without mandatory health certificates or RFID registration, warning that they were straining both security arrangements and infrastructure. “We are seeing a large influx of unregistered pilgrims. I strongly urge those without prior registration to remain patient and wait for their turn. This cooperation is essential for a smooth and seamless Yatra experience," Sinha said.