Vaishno Devi

Katra residents protest against proposed Vaishno Devi ropeway project

Scores of protesters took to the streets in Jammu and Kashmir's Katra town on Tuesday against the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, demanding an immediate rollback of the proposed ropeway project, officials said. Locals of Katra, the base camp for the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, have been opposing the Rs 250-crore ropeway project, which is proposed to connect Tarakote Marg with Sanji Chhat along the 12-kilometre steep track to the cave shrine in Reasi district. They claim the ropeway would adversely impact the livelihoods of over 60,000 families, particularly hoteliers, shopkeepers, pony operators, pithus and labourers who depend on the pilgrimage for daily income. Carrying placards, scores of men, women and children staged a protest march in Katra under the banner of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti. They raised slogans against the shrine board, demanding the rollback of the project. Leaders of the agitation claimed the project would severely affect local ponywalas, ..

Security beefed at Vaishno Devi shrine, Jammu city after Red Fort blast

Security has been beefed at the Mata Vaishno Devi cave shrine, its base camp Katra, and Jammu city following the Red Fort blast in the national capital Monday evening, officials said. A high-intensity explosion ripped through a slow-moving car at a traffic signal near the Red Fort Metro Station, killing at least eight people and gutting several vehicles. Twenty-four people were injured in the blast that occurred during peak evening hours when the area was crowded, officials said. "Security has been beefed up in vital areas of the Jammu region. Security measures have been immediately strengthened at the Vaishno Devi cave shrine and the base camp in Katra," a police officer told PTI. Security has also been enhanced in and around Jammu city, he said, adding that vigilance has been increased along railway tracks and the JammuSrinagar National Highway. A high alert has been sounded across the region. Top police officers conducted security checks in Katra on Monday night. DIG Jammu-Ka

Vaishno Devi pilgrimage resumes after three-day suspension in J&K

The pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district resumed Wednesday morning after remaining suspended for three days owing to inclement weather, officials said. The traffic on the 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway was also partially allowed after a day-long suspension, while all government and private schools reopened in Jammu and elsewhere after two days' closure, the officials said. A spokesman of the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board said the pilgrimage to the shrine restarted with the opening of all registration counters around 6 am on Wednesday. The pilgrimage is progressing smoothly with hundreds of devotees leaving base camp Katra for the shrine. The yatra to the shrine was suspended along with Machail Mata yatra in Kishtwar district on October 5 to 7 following prediction of widespread rainfall in the plain and snowfall in the high altitude areas. Machail Mata yatra also resumed this morning with the improvement in the

Vaishno Devi yatra resumes after 22-day halt due to heavy rainfall

The reopening of the pilgrimage has brought relief and joy to devotees, many of whom had been waiting in Katra for the shrine to reopen

Vaishno Devi yatra postponed till further orders due to heavy rainfall

Due to heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir's Bhawan, the commencement of the temporarily suspended Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra stands postponed till further orders, as per the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.The pilgrimage to the holy shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi was suspended for 14 days in a row due to adverse weather conditions and multiple landslides in the region.In a post on social media X, the Board requested devotes to stay updated through official communication channels."Due to incessant rain at Bhawan & the track, commencement of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra scheduled from 14th September stands postponed till further order. Devotees are requested to stay updated through official communication channels," the post read.Earlier, the Shrine Board expressed gratitude to the devotees for their patience and understanding during the temporary suspension of the Yatra."The resumption of the Yatra marks a reaffirmation of our collective faith and resilience, and the Board remains .

Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage may resume next week after weather review

The pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine atop the Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district is likely to resume next week after a fresh review of the weather advisory, officials said on Saturday. The yatra remained suspended for the 12th consecutive day on Saturday with the weatherman forecasting the possibility of moderate rain or thunder showers over a few districts of Jammu division towards late night or early morning hours on September 7 and 8. "A decision to resume the yatra will be taken next week. The track is cleared of the debris and is getting a facelift after the recent damage due to landslides triggered by heavy rains," an official of the shrine board said. The yatra was suspended hours before a landslide along the old track at Adhkuwari on August 26 claimed 34 lives and left 20 others injured. The suspension is the longest since the COVID-19 restrictions, with authorities prioritising pilgrim safety and conducting restoration work on the damaged track a

Vaishno Devi yatra in J&K remains suspended for 11th day after landslide

The pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir remained suspended for the 11th consecutive day on Friday. The yatra was suspended after a landslide on August 26 claimed 34 lives and left 20 others injured.Though the weather has improved significantly with the sun shining brightly after ten days of heavy rains, flash floods, and landslides, the authorities are yet to take a call on resuming the yatra. Yatra is still suspended. This is due to the decision taken by authorities last week, keeping in view the safety of pilgrims, an official said. The decision to resume the yatra will be taken at an appropriate time after assessing all aspects, the official added. The suspension is the longest since the COVID-19 restrictions, with authorities prioritising pilgrim safety and conducting restoration work on the damaged pilgrimage track and commercial structures in Katra. The landslide at Adhkuwari in the Trikuta hills of the Katra belt on Augu

Trump’s tariffs take effect, H-1B visa ‘total scam’, Vaishno Devi landslide & more

US President Donald Trump’s additional 25% tariff on Indian goods took effect today, raising the total levy to 50%. Amid this, India is launching dedicated outreach programmes in 40 countries.

PM Modi condoles loss of lives in Vaishno Devi landslide, toll hits 32

The death toll in the Vaishno Devi landslide has gone up to 32, officials said on Wednesday, a day after disaster struck the route on the hilltop shrine in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district. At least 20 people were injured in the landslide triggered by heavy, relentless rain, the officials said. The pilgrimage to the shrine was suspended when the mountainside literally gave way and stones, boulders and rocks came hurtling down around 3 pm on Tuesday, catching people unawares. The landslide struck at a point about halfway along the winding 12-km trek from Katra to the shrine. There are two routes up to the shrine -- while the yatra had been suspended on the Himkoti trek route since morning, it was going on on the old route till 1.30 pm when authorities decided to suspend it till further orders in view of the torrential rain.

Rain mayhem in J&K: 13 dead, including 9 in landslide on Vaishno Devi route

Rivers overflowed, the raging waters flattening everything in their way, and boulders, trees and rocks hurtled down slopes across Jammu region on Tuesday, killing at least 13 people, including nine pilgrims struck by a landslide on the Vaishno Devi route. Relentless heavy rain led to havoc not just in Jammu, which saw flashfloods, landslides and the pilgrimage to the Vaishno Devi shrine being suspended, but also in Kashmir Valley. Infrastructure was severely damaged with bridges collapsing and mobile towers and electricity poles breaking like virtual twigs. Telecom services collapsed in large parts of the union territory, leading to millions being cut off from communication and escalating problems, officials said. Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar and Kishtwar-Doda national highways was suspended and dozens of hill roads were blocked or damaged by landslides or flashfloods, they said. Many trains to and from Jammu were cancelled. The winding route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop

Rain mayhem in J&K: 11 dead, including 7 in landslide on Vaishno Devi route

Rivers overflowed, the raging waters flattening everything in their way, and boulders, trees and rocks hurtled down slopes across Jammu region on Tuesday, killing at least 11 people, including seven pilgrims struck by a landslide on the Vaishno Devi route. Relentless heavy rain led to havoc not just in Jammu, which saw flashfloods, landslides and the pilgrimage to the Vaishno Devi shrine being suspended, but also in Kashmir Valley. Infrastructure was severely damaged with bridges collapsing and mobile towers and electricity poles breaking like virtual twigs. Telecom services collapsed in large parts of the union territory, leading to millions being cut off from communication and escalating problems, officials said. Traffic on the Jammu-Srinagar and Kishtwar-Doda national highways was suspended and dozens of hill roads were blocked or damaged by landslides or flashfloods, they said. Many trains to and from Jammu were cancelled. The winding route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop

One dead, 39 injured as bus carrying pilgrims falls into gorge in J&K

A bus carrying pilgrims to the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi skidded off the Jammu-Pathankot highway and fell into a gorge in Jammu and Kashmir's Samba district on Thursday, leaving one person dead and 39 others injured, officials said. The accident took place at Jatwal, when the bus carrying pilgrims to Katra from Uttar Pradesh, suffered a tyre burst and skidded off the highway near a small bridge, they said. The deceased was identified as 45-year-old Iqbal Singh of Amroha, they added. A rescue operation was launched and the injured were shifted to the hospital in Samba. Seven of them were later admitted to AIIMS Vijaypur.

Landslide hits Vaishno Devi track in J-K's Reasi; 1 dead, 9 injured

A massive landslide struck the old track to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir on Monday, leaving at least 10 persons including five pilgrims, injured, officials said. Officials said a booking office and an overhead iron structure caved in under the weight of the landslide, triggered by heavy rains which lashed Katra town, the base camp for the pilgrims visiting the shrine atop Trikuta hills, they said. The yatra to the shrine has been suspended till 1 pm as a precautionary measure. The incident occurred around 8.30 am at Gulshan Ka Langar near Banganga, the starting point for the yatra where mostly pony riders gather along the old track and register before taking the pilgrims to the cave shrine, 12 km from the town. The landslide resulted in critical injuries to three persons and minor injuries to seven others. All the injured were rescued and taken to hospital, officiating Chief Executive Officer of Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Sachin Kumar Vaishya

Railway Ministry approves survey for doubling of 77.96 km Jammu-Katra line

The Railway Ministry has approved the final location survey for the doubling of 77.96 km railway line between Jammu and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Katra, aimed at improving connectivity and facilitating pilgrims, officials said on Wednesday. "This survey will cover a length of 77.96 km and its estimated cost will be Rs 12,59,17,363. It is going to lay the foundation for the construction of this future railway line," Himanshu Shekhar Upadhyay, Chief Public Relations Officer, Northern Railway, said. The officials stated that the responsibility for implementing the entire project has been assigned to the Northern Railway. "This additional new line will greatly ease the travel of devotees who visit the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. It also reflects the efforts being made by Indian Railways to expand and modernise its network, especially in areas which are important from a strategic and public point of view," Upadhyay said. He added, "This initiative will not only promote pilgrimage and ..

Two men posing as pony service providers caught on Vaishno Devi route

Two men were booked for allegedly impersonating pony service providers using fake documents on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi route in Jammu and Kashmir's Reasi district, officials said. During routine patrolling near Shri Geeta Mata Mandir, police team intercepted a man identifying as one Puran Singh. On verifying, police found his name to be Manir Hussain. He was using someone else's authorised service card to operate illegally, police said, adding that an FIR under relevant sections of law has been registered at Katra Police Station. In a similar case near Ban Ganga bridge, police caught Sahil Khan, who was from Kotli in Jammu district, for allegedly operating a pony service without any valid license. He admitted that he had no authorisation and a case was registered, police said. Authorities said surveillance and verification drives would continue to curb unauthorised activities on the shrine route. Police have urged all service providers to carry valid documents and requested the

Orry, 7 others booked for consuming alcohol near Vaishno Devi shrine

Orry, along with seven others, is accused of breaching religious norms and local laws at one of Hinduism's most sacred pilgrimage sites

Katra returns to normalcy after weeklong shutdown against ropeway project

Katra -- the base camp for pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu and Kashmir -- resumed normal business activity on Wednesday after a week-long shutdown protesting a proposed ropeway project in the Trikuta hills of Reasi district. Eighteen people detained by police during the protests were also released, sparking overnight celebrations in the holy town. "All shops, restaurants, and business establishments reopened after a week-long closure due to the shutdown, while traffic movement was also restored, bringing much relief to the pilgrims," an official said. With the return of normalcy, hundreds of pilgrims thronged the holy town on the first day of the year to pay obeisance at the cave shrine, with long serpentine queues seen at the entry points in Katra and Bhawan. "We are very happy that the bandh has ended. It was causing huge inconvenience to us. We have come here to pay obeisance on the first day of the new year," Suresh Kadam, a resident of Pune, said. The

18 protesters detained in stir against Katra ropeway project released

The Jammu and Kashmir administration on Tuesday formed a four-member committee to hold talks with those protesting against the Katra ropeway project and announced that it has decided to release all those detained during protests. Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar told reporters that the decisions were taken after holding detailed discussions with members of the civil society. "After the discussions, it was decided that all those detained will be released and the market will be reopened," he said. "Secondly, the work on the ropeway will remain suspended until the committee completes its discussions," he said. "A four-member committee has been formed by the lieutenant governor," Kumar said. Kumar and the CEO of the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board are among the members of the committee. The divisional commissioner, flanked by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Sangharsh Samiti leaders, said all issues will be discussed during the committee's meetings. "The shops will be reopened tonigh

Vaishno Devi Shrine records second highest number of pilgrims in decade

Efforts are underway to provide more facilities for the devotees and that the footfall in Katra will increase with the improvement in connectivity

Shutdown in Katra continues: Why are locals protesting the ropeway project

Authorities detained protestors for opposing the Rs 250 crore ropeway project in Katra, triggering hunger strikes