Vaishnodevi Yatra resumes

Jammu, Sept 8: Pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Mata Vaishnodevi in Trikuta Hills of Reasi district resumed this 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 (CEO), Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board (SMVSB), 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 landslides, he said, adding 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. The decision to resume the pilgrimage was taken this morning after the supply of water and power services were restored on this track, he said.

The pilgrimage via two new tracks would take two days as efforts to restore water and power supply is on, the CEO said adding helicopter services to the shrine are likely to restored by late this afternoon. In view of landslides triggered by heavy rains, over 4000 pilgrims were stuck at various places en route the cave shrine for the past few days. The Board had provided them all facilities.

The 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.

PTI