The pilgrimage track to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district was struck by another landslide on Wednesday. The incident occurred at the Sammar point on the route, further blocking the path to the shrine, which has been closed to devotees since August 26 due to the ongoing heavy rains and a deadly landslide.
Fortunately, no casualties were reported in this latest event. The Katra base camp has been largely empty as the pilgrimage has been suspended for nine days, leaving no devotees in the area at the time of the landslide.
Record Rainfall and Ongoing Suspension
The Katra base camp recorded over 200 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours, the highest in the Jammu region, highlighting the extreme weather conditions that are plaguing the area. Officials have also evacuated accommodations for officials as a precautionary measure due to the imminent threat of further landslides.
The yatra was first suspended after a tragic landslide on August 26 on the old route near Ardhkuwari, which killed 34 pilgrims and injured 20 others. A high-level committee, headed by Shaleen Kabra, Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Jal Shakti, has been formed to investigate the causes of that tragedy.
A Waiting Game for Devotees
As rescue and restoration teams work to clear the debris and ensure the safety of the route, authorities have stated that a decision on resuming the pilgrimage will be made only once the situation improves and the 12-km track is declared safe for devotees. For now, those pilgrims who are stranded in Katra are offering prayers at the ‘Darshani Deodi’ (the main entrance of the route). Train services from New Delhi to Katra have also been temporarily terminated.
While the pilgrimage has been suspended, the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine itself remains open, with priests continuing to perform daily prayers and rituals.