J&K: Vaishno Devi Yatra Resumes After Being Temporarily Suspended Due To Heavy Rain

At 6:30 in the morning on Saturday, around 1,500 devotees were allowed to resume the journey from the base camp.

Pilgrims return to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine, in Reasi district. The pilgrimage resumed on Saturday morning after remaining suspended overnight due to heavy rains. (PTI Photo) ( Image Source :PTI )

New Delhi: The Mata Vaishno Devi yatra which was suspended temporarily due to heavy rains Friday was resumed Saturday morning, officials said, as reported by PTI. At 6:30 in the morning on Saturday, around 1,500 devotees were allowed to resume the journey from the base camp, Darshani Dodi in Katra to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. 

However, helicopter services remained suspended due to bad weather. The Himkoti (battery car route) track is still closed due to ongoing clearance operation. The pilgrimage was suspended temporarily on Friday evening due to heavy rain which started at 6 pm and continued till midnight during which several devotees were present at the shrine. Several videos were shared on social media showing flood-like situation on the Vaishno Devi track.

#WATCH | J&K: Heavy rainfall triggers flash floods near Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra town in Reasi district pic.twitter.com/NhgxNjbV9x

— ANI (@ANI) August 19, 2022

"In the wake of heavy rainfall, upward movement of pilgrims to Vaishno Devi temple has been stopped from Katra. Priority is given to pilgrims coming downwards. Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have already been deployed, The situation is being monitored. No untoward incident reported so far," the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board said late on Friday, as per ANI. 

Anshul Garg, Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board was reported by PTI as saying that no casualty or damage was reported due to the heavy rainfall.

"We have reached as per our scheduled programme and are eagerly waiting to have darshan at the shrine," Kumar Yogesh, a resident of Madhya Pradesh, said while waiting in a queue for the yatra.

Many pilgrims, however, were disappointed to return to the base camp without 'darshan' amid heavy rains.

"We were asked to return to the base camp by the security personnel. We are staying back to complete our yatra," Joginder Singh, a resident of Haryana, said.

(With ANI and PTI inputs)