Shimla/Reckong Peo, June 29
The Kinnaur district administration has postponed the Kinnaur Kailash Yatra 2026 until further orders after a reconnaissance team flagged serious safety risks along the pilgrimage route, including unstable glaciers, rockfalls, and landslide-prone stretches.
According to a press note issued by the Office of the Sub-Divisional Magistrate, Kalpa, and Chairman of the Kinnaur Kailash Yatra Organising Committee, the annual pilgrimage was originally scheduled to be held from July 1 to July 30, 2026, following a decision taken at a high-level meeting chaired by Revenue, Horticulture, Tribal Development and Public Grievance Redressal Minister Jagat Singh Negi on June 12.
As part of the annual safety review, a special reconnaissance team inspected the route on June 21 under the supervision of the Forest Department and the local administration. The team’s report identified multiple high-risk sections, particularly between Miling Khata and Shivling, where large glaciers and unstable boulders pose a constant threat of rockfalls.
The report also highlighted that the stretch between Gufa and Sorang has been obstructed by massive fallen boulders. Many of these rocks remain unstable and suspended, making immediate clearance impossible without specialised equipment and extensive safety measures.
Officials warned that rising temperatures have accelerated snowmelt, destabilising heavy rocks and significantly increasing the risk of rockfalls, landslides and falling debris. The section between Miling Khata and the Holy Cave, often traversed during night hours by pilgrims, has been described as particularly hazardous.
Taking note of the findings, the district administration has decided to postpone the pilgrimage in the interest of the safety of devotees, rescue personnel and emergency response teams. The administration said the yatra will resume only after the route is declared safe following an improvement in prevailing conditions.
The administration has appealed to all devotees and intending pilgrims not to undertake the Kinnaur Kailash Yatra until further orders.
