J&K: Vaishno Devi yatra to resume tomorrow after 19-day halt

JAMMU: The Vaishno Devi yatra in J&K's Reasi district will resume Sept 14, subject to favourable weather conditions, after remaining suspended for 19 days, a shrine board official said on Friday.The yatra was halted (the longest since the pandemic restrictions) after 34 people, mostly pilgrims, were killed and several others injured following a landslide due to heavy rain on Aug 26, about halfway along the 12-km trek to the hilltop temple.The suspension was necessitated due to inclement weather conditions and essential maintenance of the track leading to the holy shrine, a shrine board spokesperson said."Pilgrims are advised to carry valid identification, follow designated pathways and cooperate with on-ground staff. RFID-based tracking remains mandatory for transparency and traceability," a statement said. "For live updates, booking services and helpline support, devotees can visit the shrine board's official website."J&K LG Manoj Sinha, who is also the chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, has constituted a high-level three-member committee to investigate the causes of the Aug 26 landslide.