Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Sept 17: Resumed early this morning after 22 days, the pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta Hills was once again suspended in the evening because of bad weather.
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Officials sources told the Excelsior that within hours of its resumption, the pilgrimage was once again stopped at 5 pm for avoiding any untoward incident as the weather suddenly turned inclement amid rains at various places.
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By the time yatra was stopped, 2580 pilgrims had proceeded for their onward journey to the holy shrine since this morning, sources added.
Earlier, in the morning, the yatra was resumed at 6 am after a suspension of 22 days due to a devastating landslide that claimed 34 lives and injured 20 others.
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) had announced the reopening of the yatra subject to favourable weather conditions from this morning, bringing cheers on the faces of many devotees who were camping in Katra town — the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the shrine.
Hundreds of pilgrims gathered at Banganga Darshani gate, the starting point of the yatra, in the early hours of the day, expressing immense happiness and relief on the commencement of the pilgrimage.
Shrine Board officials said the yatra began from both the routes leading to the hilltop shrine after a temporary suspension necessitated by inclement weather conditions and essential maintenance of the track leading to the shrine.
Pilgrims have been advised to carry valid identification, follow designated pathways and cooperate with on-ground staff while the Radio Frequency Identity Card (RFID)-based tracking remains mandatory for transparency and traceability.
The pilgrims termed the resumption of the yatra as a very special day and said “visiting the shrine is a blessing.
The Shrine Board urged all pilgrims to strictly follow safety guidelines and remain updated through official communication channels.
The pilgrimage is expected to see a large number of devotees in the coming days, especially during the upcoming Navratri scheduled to start from September 22 till October 1.
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