Vaishno Devi yatra to resume on Sept 14; 19 days after landslide killed 34 pilgrims

Jammu: The pilgrimage to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in the Trikuta hills will resume on Sunday, 19 days after being suspended due to a landslide near Ardhkuwari on August 26 that claimed 34 lives.

Authorities had halted the yatra following the tragedy, which was triggered by heavy rain. “After a temporary suspension caused by adverse weather and necessary track maintenance, the yatra will restart from September 14, subject to favourable conditions,” an official spokesperson said.

Pilgrims have been advised to carry valid ID, stick to designated routes, and follow instructions from staff. Devotees can access live updates, bookings, and helpline services via the shrine board’s official website. The board expressed gratitude to devotees for their patience, calling the resumption “a reaffirmation of collective faith and resilience” and assuring commitment to pilgrims’ safety and sanctity.

Following the August 26 incident, Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered a probe on August 29 by a three-member committee comprising additional chief secretary Shaleen Kabra, IGP Jammu Bhim Sen Tuti, and divisional commissioner Ramesh Kumar. The panel was asked to submit its report within two weeks, but no findings have been shared yet.

This is not the first such inquiry. A similar panel, also led by Kabra, was set up after the January 1, 2022, stampede at the shrine that killed 12 devotees. Its findings were never made public, drawing criticism from civil society and legal experts.