The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDB) has suspended the pilgrimage from Sunday, October 5 to Tuesday, October 7, following an alert from the India Meteorological Department (IMD) about bad weather.
Officials said the decision was taken to ensure the safety of devotees. The yatra will resume on October 8 if weather conditions improve.
Reason Behind the Suspension
The Shrine Board announced the suspension on Friday through social media, stating that the step was taken after IMD’s warning.
Authorities urged pilgrims to follow the advisory and assured that the measure was purely for their security.
Second Interruption in Two Months
This is the second month in a row that the yatra has been disrupted. Earlier, from August 26, the pilgrimage was suspended for 22 days after heavy rains triggered a landslide near the Indraprastha Restaurant in Adhkuwari, halfway along the 12-km trek from Katra to the holy cave in Trikuta Hills.
That disaster claimed 34 lives and left 20 injured, marking the longest suspension since the COVID-19 lockdowns.
Large Devotee Turnout During Navratri
The suspension comes right after a huge gathering of devotees during Navratri. Between September 22 and October 1, more than 1.70 lakh pilgrims visited the shrine.
Throughout the festival, chants of “Jai Mata Di” and devotional songs echoed at the Katra base camp. Navratri remains the period when the temple records its highest annual footfall.
