Jammu: Nearly 10,000 devotees paid obeisance at the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Cave Shrine over four days since the yatra resumed from the Katra base camp in Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir.
The pilgrimage resumed on the morning of September 18 but was suspended later that day due to bad weather, before restarting on September 19 . Official sources said around 2,000–2,500 pilgrims visited the shrine daily.
“The figure in the last four days has touched around 10,000,” they added, noting that the number is expected to rise during the Navratras, starting tomorrow (Monday).
The yatra, which resumed on September 18 after a 22-day suspension, was marked by chants of “Jai Mata Di.” It had been suspended on August 26 following heavy rainfall and a deadly landslide near Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkuwari that claimed 34 lives, mostly pilgrims, and injured several others. The yatra, originally scheduled to begin on September 14, had been postponed.
The resumption has brought hustle-bustle back to Katra town, with traders, transporters, and hoteliers expressing relief and optimism, especially ahead of the Navratras.
Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who also serves as chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), has constituted a high-level three-member committee to investigate the landslide.
The committee, headed by Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Jal Shakti Shaleen Kabra and including Jammu Divisional Commissioner Ramesh Kumar and Inspector General of Police, Jammu B S Tuti, will submit a comprehensive report to LG Sinha.
On September 13, SMVDSB Chief Executive Officer Sachin Kumar Vaishya chaired a joint meeting at the Spiritual Growth Centre, Katra, to ensure a seamless pilgrimage during the upcoming nine-day Navratras.
The CEO emphasised the expected influx of devotees both at the Holy Shrine and the Katra base camp, urging all stakeholders to work in synergy and take necessary measures for a hassle-free yatra during the festival period.