The Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra remained suspended for the fifth consecutive day on Saturday following landslides triggered by heavy rainfall in Jammu and Kashmir.
Earlier, on August 26, at least 36 pilgrims, including seven minors, were killed and ten others injured after a landslide struck Adhkuwari. Many pilgrims from different parts of the country are still stranded in Katra, hoping the yatra will resume soon and they can perform darshan at the shrine.
“I had hoped to do darshan of Mata, but I am getting disappointed… I hope she hears my prayers and I can do the darshan… I will stay for 2 to 4 days. I will not go until I can do the darshan. I am very hopeful; I came here for the first time,” said a devotee who was hoping for improvement in weather.
Another devotee said, “'I come to visit the place every year.' I have a strong belief in Mata. I will not leave the base without performing darshan at the shrine. I am here to stay. I will wait as many days as I have to. I pray Mata ji can grant those who lost their lives a space at her feet and cure those who were injured.”
Jammu and Kashmir has been hit by back-to-back landslides and cloudbursts, triggering flash floods across several districts. More than 124 people have died in the past two weeks.
Also Read: Vaishno Devi Yatra suspended temporarily, landslide at Bhojnalaya
Follow us
