Vaishno Devi Landslide:- Heavy rains are continuing in most states of the country at this time. Due to heavy rains, people are facing significant trouble in some states. Torrential rains were recorded in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir on Monday. After this, debris began falling from the mountain on the way to Mata Vaishno Devi, resulting in a massive landslide. Due to landslides in Himkoti and surrounding areas, the movement of devotees has been halted, and the battery car service has also been suspended. A campaign is being run to clean the closed roads with a JCB at a fast pace.
The movement of devotees from this route was stopped due to continuous stone falling. Due to heavy rains, the helicopter service remained suspended for the fifth consecutive day. The cable car service from Vaishno Devi Bhawan to Bhairav Valley has also been suspended due to heavy rains. Devotees were seen traveling on foot or with the help of horse, pitthu, palanquin.
Board officials have stated that repairs to the battery car route are underway. It will be made operational soon. Given the adverse weather, officers and jawans of the Shrine Board, Police Department, CRPF, along with the disaster management team, have been deployed at various places on all routes. Devotees are being advised to travel with utmost caution and avoid areas prone to landslides.
Due to the closure of the battery car route, the entire pressure has shifted to the old traditional route, resulting in a significant increase in the crowd there. In such situations, senior citizens and people with disabilities feel the need for special assistance. This is not the first time that rain has disrupted the Vaishno Devi Yatra, but this time the intensity was higher, due to which the situation has become more serious.
