Ramban, Jul 23: Intermittent monsoon rains continued to lash large parts of Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday, bringing all major yatras to a standstill for the fourth consecutive day as authorities extended the suspension of yatras due to persistent rainfall, landslides, flash floods, shooting stones, and unsafe road conditions.
The Amarnath Yatra remained suspended till further orders, while the yatras to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi, Shiv Khori shrine, and Sarthal Devi in Kishtwar also continued to remain suspended as a precautionary measure amid adverse weather conditions.
The suspension comes in the wake of an adverse weather forecast issued by the India Meteorological Department (IMD), which has predicted moderate to heavy rainfall across the Jammu region.
Continuous downpours over the past several days have triggered landslides, mudslides, flash floods, shooting stones, and waterlogging at several vulnerable locations, severely affecting road connectivity and public movement.
The Srinagar-Jammu National Highway remained closed for the second consecutive day on Thursday after fresh landslides and shooting stones at multiple locations in Ramban district, further delaying the movement of stranded vehicles and yatris.
Officials said the Jammu divisional administration, after reviewing the prevailing weather situation and the condition of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway, decided to continue suspending the movement of fresh batches of Amarnath yatris from Bhagwati Nagar Yatri Niwas in Jammu to the Baltal and Nunwan base camps until further orders.
No convoy carrying yatris has been allowed to move towards Kashmir from Jammu, Udhampur, or Ramban as vulnerable stretches of the Srinagar-Jammu National Highway continue to witness frequent landslides, mudslides, and shooting stones due to incessant rainfall.
Divisional Commissioner Jammu Ramesh Kumar said the decision had been taken solely in the interest of yatris’ safety.
He appealed devotees staying at Yatri Niwas and transit camps in Jammu, Udhampur, and Ramban to remain at their designated accommodation centres and await fresh instructions from the administration.
He said all district administrations, the Shri Amarnathji Shrine Board, security agencies, and other line departments had been directed to ensure adequate arrangements for stranded yatris, including accommodation, food, drinking water, medical facilities, and other essential services.
Meanwhile, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board continued the temporary suspension of the yatra to the cave shrine atop the Trikuta Hills due to persistent rainfall and unsafe track conditions.
Devotees have been advised to postpone their journey and rely only on official advisories regarding the resumption of the yatra.
The prolonged suspension has left the base camp town of Katra wearing a deserted look, with hotels, markets, restaurants, and yatra routes witnessing unusually thin footfall. Normally bustling with thousands of yatris every day, the town has experienced a sharp decline in visitor movement, causing concern among local traders and those dependent on yatra-related business.
Officials also continued to monitor vulnerable stretches of the shrine track after a landslide was reported on the Ardhkuwari-Himkoti route.
No casualties were reported as the yatra had already been suspended.
The yatra to Shiv Khori shrine in Reasi district also remained suspended as heavy rains continued to affect the approach road and surrounding hill slopes.
Officials said the yatra would resume only after weather conditions improve and the route is declared safe.
In Kishtwar district, the Sarthal Devi Yatra also remained suspended till further orders.
The District Magistrate and Chairman, District Disaster Management Authority (DDMA), said continuous rainfall had significantly increased the risk of landslides, flash floods, overflowing streams, and shooting stones along the yatra route, making the movement of devotees unsafe.
The district administration has prohibited the movement of yatris towards the shrine and directed the Police, civil administration, and all concerned departments to strictly enforce the suspension until the situation normalises.
Officials reiterated that the suspension of all major yatras is a temporary precaution aimed at safeguarding the lives of devotees.
Yatris have been urged not to pay heed to rumours or unverified information and to rely only on official advisories issued by the administration.
Authorities said all yatras would resume only after a comprehensive assessment of the weather, restoration of road connectivity, and clearance of yatra routes by the concerned agencies.
Disaster management teams, police, security forces, and civil administration have been directed to remain on high alert and provide all necessary assistance to stranded yatris across J&K.
With heavy rainfall continuing across the Jammu region and fresh landslides being reported from several vulnerable locations, the administration advised people to avoid unnecessary travel, particularly on hilly roads, until weather conditions improve and normalcy is restored.
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