Vaishno Devi Yatra suspended on new track due to landslide, pilgrimage continues via old path

Vaishno Devi Yatra

A fresh landslide triggered by rains blocked the new track to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in the Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, officials said.

However, the pilgrimage is progressing smoothly through the old route, while both battery car and helicopter service remain suspended, the officials said.

They said the landslide occurred near Satya viewpoint along the Himkoti route at a time when the shrine board had already diverted the pilgrimage to the old route owing to incessant rains and the lurking threat of landslides on the new track.

A landslide also hit the track leading to the Bhairav temple, disrupting the movement of pilgrims, the officials said. They said the agencies concerned have deployed their men and machines to clear the debris on both tracks.

On June 24, Lt Governor Manoj Sinha directed the identification of vulnerable spots along the pilgrimage route and the implementation of necessary measures to address and mitigate potential risks of landslides and shooting stones, ensuring a safer environment for devotees.