The pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi remained suspended for the 14th consecutive day on Monday as heavy rains and recurring landslides continue to block the routes, raising serious safety concerns for pilgrims.
Officials said persistent rainfall has damaged stretches of the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway and trekking tracks leading to the shrine, making movement unsafe. Restoration work is underway to clear debris, but the yatra will resume only once the weather stabilises and the path is declared safe.
The prolonged suspension has left devotees disappointed, while local businesses that rely on the yatra are also struggling. A devotee from Kerala, waiting since two days, expressed hope of completing his pilgrimage despite the uncertainty, while also mourning the loss of lives in the August 26 landslide that killed 34 and injured several.
Following the tragedy, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered a high-level inquiry. A three-member committee headed by Additional Chief Secretary Shaleen Kabra, along with the Divisional Commissioner and Inspector General of Police, Jammu, is probing the causes of the landslide.
Authorities have urged devotees to avoid unnecessary travel toward the shrine until conditions improve.
