KATRA/JAMMU: The pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills remained suspended for the ninth consecutive day on Wednesday after Katra, the base camp, recorded over 200 mm of rainfall — the highest in the Jammu region in the past 24 hours, officials said.
The yatra was halted on August 26, just hours before a major landslide triggered by heavy rains struck the old route near Ardhkuwari, killing 34 pilgrims and injuring 20 others.
While the shrine remains open with priests performing daily prayers and rituals, the pilgrimage is yet to resume. Many devotees reaching Katra are offering prayers at Darshani Deodi, the main entrance that offers the first glimpse of the shrine.
Pramod, a pilgrim from Nagpur, said, “I had booked my tickets three months ago to offer prayers at the shrine. Since the yatra is suspended, I am praying at Darshani Deodi before returning home.” He added that he was not disappointed and would return when “Mata calls again.”
Officials said continuous rains have swollen rivers and streams, especially the Banganga river flowing through Katra. The pilgrimage will resume once conditions improve and the 12-km twin track to the shrine is cleared for devotees.
