- By Priyanka Koul
- Tue, 02 Sep 2025 01:18 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Vaishno Devi Yatra Remains Suspended: Following the tragic accident near the Ardhkuwari temple area, the pilgrimage to the Vaishno Devi temple remains suspended leaving around 7,000 devotees stranded in Katra, many of whom are anxiously waiting for the Yatra to resume. While authorities work to restore the route, devotees have been offered free accommodation throughout the town as they continue to hold on to hope.
From early morning until nightfall, large groups of pilgrims can be seen near Darshani Deorhi, the starting point of the Yatra. Many spend hours seated close to the gate, eyes fixed in anticipation, ready to move the moment the path reopens. Others flock to registration and information counters run by the Shrine Board, seeking updates and praying for good news.
Last Tuesday, a devastating accident took place on the road leading to Vaishno Devi Bhawan which claimed the lives of 35 pilgrims, leaving 22 others injured. The injured are currently being treated at Narayana Hospital, operated by the Shrine Board.
A group of friends Shashi Raj, Prince Kumar, Vikas Kumar, and Sachin Kumar, who had traveled all the way from Qazipura village in Bihar shared that they had just visited the Golden Temple in Amritsar and had come to seek blessings from Maa Vaishno Devi. Likewise, Ranjit Kumar, Sanjay, and Praveen from Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, said they too are waiting patiently, holding on to the faith that the Yatra will start again soon.
Pilgrims from various states have pledged to remain in Katra until the pilgrimage route is declared safe. .
Cleanup Underway, Route Restoration In Progress
According to a report by jagran.com, Teams are working around the clock to clear the debris and landslide material from the route. Boulders, stones, and loose earth are being removed in a massive cleanup operation, which authorities say might take another couple of days to complete.
Structures along the Yatra path including tin sheds meant for pilgrim rest were also damaged during the incident. The Shrine Board’s staff, along with disaster response teams, are actively repairing the damaged infrastructure to restore normalcy as soon as possible.
Free Stays, Langars For Pilgrims
Katra has stepped up in a big way to support the stranded devotees. The Hotel and Restaurant Association, in collaboration with the Katra Chamber of Commerce and local businesses, is offering free accommodation to pilgrims in need.
Rakesh Wazir, President of the Hotel and Restaurant Association, confirmed that hotels, guest houses, and dharamshalas across Katra are opening their doors free of charge. Rajkumar Padha, President of the Katra Chamber, also pledged full cooperation and ongoing support for all pilgrims.
Meanwhile, langars (free food stalls) have been set up by local residents at various locations, including near the Katra railway station and other key spots in the town, ensuring no one goes hungry during this wait.
Indian Railways Announces Special Trains
To ease travel concerns for those who want to return home or move to other destinations, the Indian Railways has introduced two special trains from Jammu.
One of them, Train No. 02238 (Jammu Tawi–Varanasi Special), departed at 3:00 PM and followed the same route as the regular train 12238. The second, Train No. 04680 (Jammu Tawi–New Delhi Unreserved Special), was initially slated to leave at 11:00 AM but was rescheduled to 2:00 PM to allow passengers arriving from Katra to board. Ultimately, it left at 4:30 PM, with stops at Kathua, Pathankot Cantt, Jalandhar Cantt, Ludhiana, Ambala Cantt, and Panipat.
