Srinagar: There’s bad news for Amarnath Yatra devotees.
The naturally-formed ice Shivling at the Amarnath cave shrine is melting too quickly this year.
Less than a week since the 57-day 2026 Yatra started, more than 90% of the ice lingam, which devotees call ‘Baba Barfani’, has vanished.
Amarnath visitors from the early batches and social media users have shared images claiming that the ice formation has almost disappeared. The Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), however, is yet to issue any assessment on the extent of the melting.
It’s the ice lingam, a seasonal ice stalagmite that increases and decreases with the cave’s temperature and weather conditions, that pilgrims love and worship.
The ice Shivling has been melting quicker than expected over the last five or six years, but what has happened in 2026 surpasses previous ‘records’.
The super-quick melting of the wonderful Baba Barfani has triggered discussion over the impact of climate change, rising number of visitors and infrastructure development in the ecologically-sensitive Himalayan region.
This year’s Yatra began on July 3 under unprecedented security, keeping last year’s terrible Pahalgam terror attack in mind. However, pilgrim numbers have surged despite security concerns.
Raising alarm, People’s Democratic Party (PDF) leader Iltija Mufti questioned the management of the Amarnath Yatra.
Sharing images of the shrinking lingam, Iltija referred to a Supreme Court-mandated cap on daily pilgrims, which she said was 10,000.
Iltija linked the early melting of the ice lingam to environmental degradation. “Only a week into Amarnath Yatra and the naturally formed lingam has already melted. Climate change from mindlessly axing trees, illegal mining, waste mismanagement & dangerous depletion of water levels are major factors,” Iltija wrote on X, adding that “environment has become a casualty in Kashmir’s politics.”
In another post, Iltija cited official figures to claim that “over 1.13 Lakh performed Darshan in the first five days itself,” averaging “22,000 per day while the SC limit it to 10,000 a day… Quality & preservation of the holy cave must take precedence over quantity.”
Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said the number of pilgrims visiting the shrine is already regulated. “There is a cap on visitors. Supreme Court has given a cap on visitors and it is binding on the shrine board.”
He added: “As far as Shivling melting is concerned, it is by God’s grace. If it is six days this time, six days it it then. It’s not in our hands to control how long it will stay.”
Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha said after reviewing arrangements at Baltal, one of the routes that the pilgrimage had seen a strong turnout.
“Today marks the eighth day. By yesterday, approximately 170,000 pilgrims had offered their prayers,” he said, adding that officials from Jammu & Kashmir administration, police, Indian Army and other security agencies are working together to ensure the Yatra remained “pleasant and safe.”
