Several videos show a flood-like situation on the Vaishno Devi track.
Jammu:
The visit to the Vaishno Devi temple atop Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district was temporarily suspended on Friday evening following flash floods caused by heavy rains, officials said.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board Chief Executive Officer Anshul Garg said the situation was under control and there was no report of any casualty or damage.
Several videos shared on social media show flood-like conditions on the Vaishno Devi track.
The pilgrims’ base camp in Katra received heavy rains for several hours in the evening, following which the authorities suspended the yatra till 5 am on Saturday as a precautionary measure, an official said.
The official said thousands of pilgrims were present at the temple when the heavy rains started and it continued till midnight.
As a precautionary measure, the Yatra from Katra has been stopped from going uphill.
“Preference is being given to the passengers coming towards Sanjichhat and then Katra in the building area under the supervision of Shrine Board staff, police and CRPF officials and Additional Chief Executive Officer Navneet posted in the building,” the official said.
He said that regular announcements are being made through public address system.
Disaster management teams and medical units have been put on alert to deal with any emergency, the official said.