The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board on Saturday announced that the pilgrimage to the revered shrine in the Trikuta Hills near Katra will remain suspended for three days, from October 5 to 7, owing to a severe weather forecast across the Jammu division and parts of south Kashmir.
The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has warned of “very heavy rainfall” in the region, prompting authorities to take precautionary measures to ensure the safety of devotees. “In view of the inclement weather advisory…Vaishno Devi yatra shall remain suspended from 5th to 7th October 2025 & will resume on 08/10/2025. Devotees may stay updated through official channels,” the Shrine Board posted on X.
Officials said the decision was taken in anticipation of possible landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts that could endanger pilgrims on the mountainous route to the shrine. Authorities have also advised devotees to avoid travelling to Katra, the base camp for the yatra, until conditions improve.
This marks the second suspension of the yatra in recent weeks. On August 26, the pilgrimage was halted after a massive landslide near Adh Kunwari killed 34 people, most of them pilgrims. The route remained closed for 22 days and was only reopened on September 17.
Despite the disruptions, the shrine has witnessed a large turnout in recent weeks. More than 1.70 lakh devotees visited Vaishno Devi during the Navratri festival, underscoring the shrine’s significance as one of the most important pilgrimage destinations in northern India.
With the latest suspension, the Shrine Board has assured that all necessary steps are being taken to safeguard pilgrims and has urged devotees to remain connected to official communication channels for further updates.
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