Home

Contact Us

Feb 2005
Back to index

Avalanche blocks Vaishno Devi yatra

     Jammu: The Mata Vaishno Devi yatra was halted today as an avalanche blocked the track to the holy shrine situated in Trikuta hills in the Udhampur district. "All the pilgrims are safe. No fresh pilgrims are being allowed to undertake the journey to Bhawan from Katra and we have requested them to postpone the journey in view of the bad weather," Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board additional CEO Rohit Kansal said. Clearance work was "going on a war-footing and the track is likely to be reopened for the pilgrims in the next 7 or 8 hours", said Kansal. According to the police, an avalanche hit the track this morning at Manokamana Bhawan blocking the route, however, no loss of life or damage to property took place. The shrine board had launched snow-clearing operations but continuous heavy snowfall in Trikuta Hills, the abode of Mata Vaishno, was causing difficulties to the pilgrims. Board has arranged a 700-bed hostel to keep stranded pilgrims in good health and spirit free of cost. The shrine witnesses nearly 4,000 to 5,000 pilgrims daily despite the snow and heavy rains and over 80,000 devotees have worshipped Mata at the shrine so far this year.
- Feb 19, 2005

                           Back to index                    Go to Top