Kinnaur Kailash Yatra postponed indefinitely due to glacier & rockfall threat
Shimla/Kalpa, June 28
The Kinnaur district administration has postponed the Kinnaur Kailash Yatra-2026 until further orders after a safety assessment found the pilgrimage route highly unsafe due to glaciers, unstable boulders and the increasing risk of rockfalls.
According to a press note issued by the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Kalpa, and Chairman of the Kinnaur Kailash Yatra Organizing Committee, a high-level meeting chaired by Revenue, Horticulture, Tribal Development and Public Grievance Redressal Minister Jagat Singh Negi on June 12 had decided to conduct the annual pilgrimage from July 1 to July 30, 2026.
As per the decision, a special reconnaissance team was constituted under the supervision of the Forest Department and the local administration to assess the safety and feasibility of the pilgrimage route.
The team inspected the route on June 21 and submitted its report highlighting several serious hazards.
The report stated that large glaciers exist along the stretch between Miling Khata and Shivling, with massive rocks and boulders precariously resting on the glaciers, making the terrain extremely unstable.
It also pointed out that the route between Gufa and Sorang has been blocked at several places due to the fall of huge boulders.
The rocks remain unstable and pose a continuous threat of further rockfalls, making immediate clearance impossible without specialized equipment and adequate safety measures.
The assessment further warned that rising temperatures have accelerated snowmelt, destabilizing the boulders and increasing the danger of landslides, rockfalls and falling debris.
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The section from Miling Khata to the Holy Cave, which is generally traversed during night hours, has been described as particularly hazardous and a serious threat to the lives of pilgrims.
Considering these findings and giving top priority to the safety of pilgrims as well as rescue and emergency response teams, the district administration has decided to postpone the Kinnaur Kailash Yatra until the route is certified safe.
Devotees have been advised not to undertake the pilgrimage until further orders.
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