The yatra at Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hill in Katra town in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district resumed on Sunday morning after being briefly suspended for the second time in 24 hours as a precaution due to bad weather conditions. Battery service to and from Ardh Kuwari, however, remains suspended.
“Due to unfavorable weather conditions, Yatra has been suspended until the morning of August 21,” the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine board said on Saturday.
The upward movement of pilgrims from Katra to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine resumed on Saturday morning after flash floods forced authorities to halt the yatra on Friday. The board of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine said on Friday evening that priority was given to descending pilgrims.
“Police and Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) have already been deployed, the situation is being monitored. No untoward incidents have been reported so far,” the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine board said.
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Several weather-related incidents were reported in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand as heavy rains triggered landslides and flash floods. In Jammu and Kashmir, two brothers were killed after their mud house collapsed in a landslide.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed his sorrow over the incident and ordered officials to provide necessary assistance to the affected family. “Extremely saddened by the loss of life due to the collapse of a house in Muttal, Udhampur. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family at this time of grief. Ordered the district administration to provide necessary assistance to the affected family,” Sinha tweeted.
At least 21 people have been killed in Himachal Pradesh due to landslides and other weather-related incidents in the past 24 hours, a senior official said on Saturday.
“21 dead, 12 injured, 6 missing over the past 24 hours as heavy rains continue to trigger flash floods, landslides and accidents across the state,” the Disaster Management Authority of Washington said. the state.
(With agency contributions)
