Shri Amarnath Yatra 2019 curtailed

Srinagar (Jammu & Kashmir), August, 2019 - The J&K administration curtailed Shri Amarnath Yatra 2019 two weeks ahead of its scheduled following reports of security forces that terrorists could target it and disrupt peace in Jammu & Kashmir. The government had earlier suspended the pilgrimage till August 4 due to bad weather but pilgrims and tourists have now been asked to curtail their stay in the Kashmir valley too. The order has triggered panic and fueled fear among the population a major announcement was in the offing.

Giving reasons for the security measures, Chinar Corps Commander Lt General KJS Dhillon told journalists in Srinagar that arms and ammunition were found along Baltal and Pahalgam pilgrimage routes. "We cannot take any risk after we found so much ammunition on the yatra route," J&K Police Director General said. Many pilgrims had headed for tourists spots after Shri Amarnath Yatra and hence the advisory for everyone. .

On 6^th August 2019, the Govt. of India scrapped Article 370 of the Constitution that grants special status to Jammu and Kashmir, with an order saying "it shall come into force at once". The abrogation followed the Centre introducing the Jammu and Kashmir Reorganization Bill in Parliament.

Govt. of India also decided to bifurcate the state of Jammu & Kashmir into two Union Territories - Jammu and Kashmir, which will have a legislature, and Ladakh, which will be without a legislature.

And since then there has been no tourism in Kashmir, whether pilgrimage or leisure. However Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra has been going on smoothly.