Amarnath Ice Lingam is melting early, just five days after the start of the 57-day Amarnath Yatra, reigniting concerns about climate change and the growing environmental pressures on one of India’s most revered pilgrimage sites. The naturally formed ice stalagmite, known as Baba Barfani, has reportedly melted by more than 90%, with some devotees and local reports suggesting it has nearly disappeared. The development comes despite the pilgrimage witnessing one of its strongest turnouts in recent years, with over 93,000 pilgrims visiting the shrine in the first four days.

Located at an altitude of 3,888 metres (12,756 feet) in Jammu and Kashmir’s Himalayas, the Amarnath Cave is highly sensitive to changes in temperature, humidity, and human activity, making the early melting a subject of both environmental and public debate.

Record Pilgrim Numbers Return After Last Year’s Attack

This year’s Amarnath Yatra began on July 3 under heightened security following the April 2025 Pahalgam terror attack, which claimed 26 civilian lives and affected tourism across Jammu and Kashmir.

Despite those concerns, the pilgrimage has seen an overwhelming response. Officials reported that over 93,000 devotees visited the shrine within the first four days, while more than 20,000 pilgrims offered prayers on the second day alone, the highest second-day turnout in several years.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who also heads the Shri Amarnath Shrine Board (SASB), described the response as a significant increase compared to the previous four years.

Ice Lingam Shrinks Within the First Week

The fact that the Amarnath Ice Lingam is melting early has been confirmed by multiple reports from devotees, journalists, and public figures visiting the shrine.

• The sacred ice formation, which naturally forms each year inside the cave through freezing water droplets, has shrunk dramatically within the first week of the pilgrimage.
• Images shared on social media have further fueled discussions about the unusually rapid melting.
• People’s Democratic Party (PDP) leader Iltija Mufti questioned whether increasing pilgrim numbers and expanding infrastructure near the shrine could be affecting the cave’s fragile environment.
• She also referred to the Supreme Court-mandated cap on daily pilgrims and called for closer monitoring of environmental impacts.

Also Read: Residents File Lawsuit Against Microsoft’s US AI Data Centre Over Noise Concerns

Is Climate Change the Main Reason?

Scientists have repeatedly warned that the Himalayan region is warming faster than the global average, making high-altitude ecosystems increasingly vulnerable.

Even small increases in temperature or humidity can influence the formation and stability of the seasonal ice stalagmite inside the Amarnath Cave. Recent reports have pointed to unusually warm weather around the cave as one of the likely reasons behind the rapid melting this year.

This is not an isolated event. The ice lingam has melted progressively earlier in several recent years:

• 2018: Melted within 29 days.
• 2020: Lasted around 38 days.
• 2022: Melted within 28 days.
• 2024: Reportedly disappeared within about one week.
• 2026: Significant melting was reported just five days after the Yatra began.

The trend has strengthened concerns that rising temperatures are affecting the shrine’s natural ice formation.

Also Read: Global Nuclear Energy Output To Rise 44% By 2036; Driven By India And China

Growing Infrastructure Also Under Scrutiny

Climate experts and environmental observers say weather may not be the only factor contributing to the shrinking ice formation.

Over the past two decades, infrastructure around the pilgrimage route has expanded considerably.

• Roads have been widened, temporary accommodation has increased, community kitchens have moved closer to the cave, electricity and solar lighting have been introduced, and additional facilities have been developed to improve access for pilgrims.
• The government has also approved a ropeway project, while proposals for additional transport infrastructure continue to be discussed.
• Some environmental experts believe these developments, together with increasing human activity, could be altering the cave’s microclimate, although no scientific study has yet established a direct causal relationship.

Congress spokesperson Ashwani Handa has called for an independent scientific assessment to determine whether recently constructed facilities near the cave are influencing local environmental conditions.

Also Read: Australia And India Sign Uranium Export Deal During PM Modi’s Visit