Devotees on the way to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine
Credit: PTI Photo
Srinagar: Amid chants of “Jai Mata Di”, the pilgrimage to the holy Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills resumed on Wednesday, 22 days after a devastating landslide struck the pilgrimage route in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, killing 34 people and injuring 20 others.
The yatra had been suspended on August 26 after relentless rainfall triggered the disaster - one of the deadliest incidents in the shrine’s history, prompting authorities to halt the Yatra and carry out urgent safety and maintenance measures along the track.
Officials of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) said the pilgrimage resumed at 6 am on Wednesday. Hundreds of devotees, many of whom had been waiting in Katra — the base camp — since the suspension, thronged the Banganga Darshani Gate, the starting point of the yatra, to begin their journey to the hilltop shrine.
“The resumption of yatra is a matter of faith and relief for lakhs of devotees. Necessary maintenance and safety measures have been completed on the tracks,” an SMVDSB official said.
The Vaishno Devi shrine is one of the most visited religious destinations in India, drawing nearly a crore pilgrims annually. The August 26 landslide had raised fresh concerns about the safety of the mountainous route, but officials insist precautionary steps, including weather monitoring and enhanced track management, are now in place.
Historically, the pilgrimage has witnessed occasional disruptions due to natural calamities or security concerns. In 2022, a stampede near the shrine claimed 12 lives, prompting authorities to introduce tighter crowd management measures.
Shrine board officials said the August 26 landslide was one of the worst tragedies in the yatra’s history, but added that fresh safety protocols and preventive measures have been put in place to ensure uninterrupted movement of pilgrims.
For millions of devotees across India, however, the resumption of the yatra is a moment of relief and renewed faith.