The Vaishno Devi Yatra in Jammu and Kashmir has been suspended once again because of adverse weather, leaving pilgrims disappointed. Following a weather warning, the Amarnath Yatra has also been temporarily halted on both the Pahalgam and Baltal routes from July 19.
What the weather warning says
The India Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for extremely heavy rain in five districts of Himachal Pradesh on July 20 and 21. The department has warned of flash floods and landslides during this period, making travel through the hilly terrain risky.
Amarnath Yatra routes affected
Movement of pilgrims on both major Amarnath Yatra routes, Pahalgam and Baltal, has been stopped because of the weather alert. The move has been taken as a precaution to ensure the safety of pilgrims during the bad weather.
A season of repeated suspensions
This is not the first time the Vaishno Devi Yatra has had to be halted this monsoon season. Earlier, on June 3, the yatra remained suspended for a 20th consecutive day, during which the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board distributed prasad to devotees in Katra. The repeated weather related suspensions have been disrupting the plans of devotees.
What happens next
Both suspensions are being described as temporary for now, with further decisions to depend on weather conditions. Pilgrims are being advised to check the latest weather updates before setting out on the yatra.
