Kamal Ghorui
The yatra to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi’s cave shrine has come to a temporary halt due to prevailing bad weather conditions that resulted in the season’s first snowfall in the Trikuta Hills of Reasi district. Authorities have stated that due to incessant rains in the plains and subsequent snowfall enroute to the shrine, the yatra to the shrine from Katra’s base camp was suspended.It was confirmed that the base camp of the pilgrimage, Katra, experienced heavy rainfall while the higher reaches, including the Vaishno Devi Hills, witnessed fresh snowfall. “The yatra was suspended from the Katra base camp earlier this morning, and no fresh batch of pilgrims was allowed to proceed. Yatris have been called back from various camps, and even those who left after a night halt at Bhawan were stopped midway,” officials added, emphasizing that safety concerns were the primary reason for suspending the yatra.
Likewise, helicopter services to Bhawan were suspended for the second day running due to poor visibility and adverse weather conditions. According to officials, both foot pilgrimage and helicopter services shall only resume when the weather conditions permit. Despite the disruption, the snowfall transformed the shrine area into a breathtaking winter scene. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board shared visuals of the snowfall on social media, captioning them, “Jai Mata Di…!!! Season’s first snowfall at Vaishno Devi Bhawan.” The Bhawan and Bhairav Temple, blanketed in snow, offered devotees a serene and spiritually uplifting experience.
The suspension has come at a time when the influx of pilgrims was considerably high. This month, so far, 4.30 lakh devotees paid obeisance at the cave shrine, while on average, 18,000 to 22,000 pilgrims were reaching the holy cave every day. Suddenly, the weather change interrupted this inflow, which officials said was only temporary, adding that the decision to suspend the yatra for the time being was purely precautionary. The authorities are constantly monitoring the weather and are likely to make an announcement regarding the commencement of the yatra when the weather is suitable for the trip. Until such time, the devotees are requested to refrain from making the trip when the weather is not on their side. For those planning to visit, here’s what to know:
Yatra registration counters and RFID cards
The 24×7 Tarakote Yatra Registration Counter continues to issue RFID Yatra Registration Cards, ensuring pilgrims can register at any time of day or night.
Additionally, the Banganga Counter operates to issue Yatra Cards to those carrying unauthorized or invalid registration cards. After 10 PM, this counter also assists pilgrims arriving with valid online Yatra Registration receipts or train tickets for trains scheduled to reach Katra after 10 PM.
Registration support at Katra Railway Station
To assist those arriving late at night, the desk at Yatra Facilitation Counter at Katra Railway station is functional up to 12 Midnight. The same is also extended for the registration process of those arriving at Katra through trains whose arrival is after 10 PM.
