Vaishnodevi Yatra resumes

Pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi in Trikuta Hills of Reasi district resumed today morning after remaining suspended for four consecutive days in view of heavy rains in Jammu and Kashmir.

However, the pilgrimage has resumed only through the old route and the two new tracks are still closed in view of landslides.

“Yatra to the cave shrine resumed this morning after remaining suspended for four days in view of heavy rains and bad weather conditions,” Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board, Mandeep K Bhandari, told PTI.

The yatra has resumed only through the old route and the two new tracks are still closed in view of the landslides, he said, adding that it will take two more days to make it available for pilgrims.

Yatra slips at Katra have been given to pilgrims this morning to undertake pilgrimage through the old route.

Decision to resume the pilgrimage was taken today morning after the supply of water and power services was restored on this track, he said.

Pilgrimage via two new tracks would take two more days as efforts to restore water and power supply are on, the CEO said, adding that helicopter services to the shrine are likely to restored by late today afternoon.

In view of landslides triggered by heavy rains, over 4,000 pilgrims were stuck at various places en route the cave shrine in the past few days. The board had provided them all facilities.

Pilgrimage to the shrine from Katra base camp was suspended on September 4 in the wake of continuing rains and the closure of the track due to landslides at various places.

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