Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage suspended due to heavy rain and snowfall in the hills

Srinagar (The Uttam Hindu): Sudden weather changes on Friday intensified cold conditions, rainfall and snowfall across several hilly regions of North India. In Jammu and Kashmir, continuous bad weather since last night has disrupted normal life. For the first time this year, such widespread rain and snowfall have been recorded across the Jammu region.

The Trikuta hills have been the worst affected, where heavy rain and snowfall forced authorities to temporarily suspend the holy Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage as a precautionary measure. Continuous rainfall was recorded overnight in the Bhawan area, followed by snowfall in the morning, making conditions more challenging. For safety reasons, registration of new pilgrims has also been halted. The pilgrimage routes have become slippery due to rain and snow, increasing risks to devotees.

Decision taken amid landslide threat

Considering the severity of the weather, the risk of landslides has increased in the region. Keeping these conditions in mind, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board decided to suspend the pilgrimage temporarily. According to the Meteorological Department, similar weather conditions may continue in Jammu and Kashmir for the next 36 hours.

Snowfall continues in higher reaches

While continuous rainfall is affecting the plains of Jammu, snowfall is ongoing in higher and mountainous areas. At the popular tourist destination Patnitop, snowfall began around 1:30 am and has continued since then. Higher regions of Rajouri and Poonch districts are also witnessing persistent snowfall.

The weather department has issued warnings of heavy snowfall at several locations in the coming days and has urged people to remain cautious.