Vaishno Devi pilgrimage resumes after 22-day suspension due to landslides | WATCH

Jammu: The Vaishno Devi pilgrimage has resumed after being suspended for 22 days due to heavy rainfall and landslides, bringing relief and joy to devotees who had been waiting in Katra. Pilgrims from across the country have started arriving, expressing happiness that their long wait is finally over and that they can now seek blessings at the holy shrine.

One pilgrim from Nagpur said, "We were waiting for the past four days for the yatra to resume. We had tickets for the 20th but were about to cancel them. Last night, we received a notification that the yatra would restart. I am very happy, and now I will be able to complete my yatra. Mata Rani will fulfil my wishes and keep everyone happy." Another devotee, Umesh, shared, "I feel very lucky that the yatra has resumed. I had been waiting for many days and many years. It was in my destiny to complete this pilgrimage and worship Mata. I believed the yatra would reopen. She was only a little angry, but I was sure I would get to see her." Harshal, another pilgrim, added, "We had been waiting for three days. We even cancelled our return ticket to Andaman yesterday. We feel lucky that the Yatra has started."

The pilgrimage was initially scheduled to restart on September 14, but remained suspended for 20 consecutive days due to adverse weather conditions in the region. The continuous rain caused landslides and blocked tracks leading to the shrine, rendering the trek unsafe for pilgrims. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway also suffered disruptions at various points from landslides and road damage, complicating connectivity.

The suspension followed a tragic landslide on August 26 near Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkuwari, halfway along the 12-kilometre trek from Katra, which killed 34 people and injured several others. The disaster struck around 3 pm during heavy rains.

The prolonged closure disappointed many devotees and also impacted local businesses reliant on the pilgrimage. Authorities continue to monitor weather conditions closely and have urged devotees to stay updated via official communication channels while taking necessary safety precautions during the ongoing yatra.

With inputs from ANI