Due to the continuing bad weather and security concerns in the Trikuta hills of Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra was also postponed for the ninth consecutive day on Wednesday. Due to heavy rains last week, landslides, sudden floods and necessary routes leading to the temple have been disrupted. Officials say the yatra will start again only after the weather improves and all the routes are declared safe for pilgrims. Officials of the District Administration and Shrine Board are keeping a close watch on the situation, while the rescue and rehabilitation teams are on high alert.
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Meanwhile, the base camp at Katra is deserted, where many devotees are still waiting for their pilgrimage to resume. On 27 August, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra was postponed due to landslides in which 34 people were killed and heavy rains. Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha ordered the formation of a high-level three-member committee to investigate the causes of landslides.
Shaleen Kabra, the Additional Chief Secretary, Jammu and Kashmir’s Water Power Department, will be the chairman of this committee, which includes the Divisional Commissioner of Jammu and Inspector General of Police. According to an official order, the committee also includes the Divisional Commissioner of Jammu and Inspector General of Police. Meanwhile, amidst heavy rains in many states, India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued red alerts for Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, North Punjab, North Haryana, East Rajasthan, South-West Uttar Pradesh, North-West and Eastern Madhya Pradesh and many districts of Odisha.
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According to IMD, districts with red alerts in Jammu and Kashmir include Poonch, Mirpur, Rajouri, Reasi, Jammu, Ramban, Udhampur, Samba, Kathua, Doda and Kishtwar. In Punjab, Kapurthala, Jalandhar, Nawashahar, Rupnagar, Moga, Ludhiana, Barnala and Sangrur are on red alerts; Whereas in Himachal Pradesh, Mandi, Una, Bilaspur, Sirmaur and Solan are under similar warning.