Vaishno Devi Pilgrimage Paused as Storm Clouds Gather Over Jammu & Kashmir

Early Sunday morning, officials in Katra announced that the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra has been put on hold. The decision, they said, is purely precautionary – the hills of Jammu and Kashmir are currently buffeted by heavy rain and strong winds, making the steep ascent unsafe for the throngs of pilgrims who usually stream in.

Travel authorities have asked anyone planning to start the trek to pause and keep an eye on updates from the shrine board. "For the safety of our devotees we cannot take any chances," a spokesperson told reporters, adding that the gate will remain closed until a clear weather window emerges.

The move mirrors another recent development: the Shri Amarnath Yatra was also suspended the same day after the India Meteorological Department issued an adverse weather forecast. Kashmir Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg confirmed that both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes are temporarily offline, and no new batches will be allowed to depart from the base camps at Baltal or Nunwan (Chandanwari).

Even though the new entries are on hold, the ongoing Amarnath pilgrimage continues. More than 370,000 devotees have already reached the holy cave since the trek began on July 3, and the 57‑day journey is slated to finish on August 28, coinciding with Shravan Purnima and Raksha Bandhan.

For those already on the Vaishno Devi trail, the message is simple: wait where you are, stay safe, and listen for official word before moving forward. Updates are expected to be posted on the shrine’s website and through local media as soon as conditions improve.