Vaishno Devi yatra suspension disappoints pilgrims; most back safety-first move
JAMMU, July 19 (PTI): Hundreds of pilgrims were left disappointed on Sunday after the Mata Vaishno Devi yatra in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district was temporarily suspended due to adverse weather, though most backed the decision, saying pilgrims’ safety must take precedence.
Many devotees recalled the devastating landslide on the yatra track on August 26 last year that claimed 32 lives and injured 20 others, saying the tragedy underscored the need for caution during inclement weather.
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board suspended the yatra as a precautionary measure following an India Meteorological Department (IMD) advisory forecasting heavy rainfall and the possibility of landslides between July 19 and 23.
