Vaishno Devi Yatra Halted Due to Heavy Rain in Jammu; Red Alert in Place
KATRA, Jammu and Kashmir – August 26, 2025:The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra is temporarily not running because of constant, heavy rain. The yearly trip to the holy site, which draws lots of people, stopped on Tuesday to keep everyone safe. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) put out a red alert for Jammu and Kashmir. They expect the heavy rain to keep going around the Trikuta Hills, which could cause landslides and floods.
Why the Suspension?
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) decided to stop the trip. A board person said that keeping people safe is what matters most. The yatra will start again when the weather gets better. The battery car and helicopter rides to the shrine also stopped before they closed the 13-km walk from Katra.
The call to stop the yatra came after a landslide on the route near Inderprastha Bhojnalaya in Adhkwari. A few people got hurt, and rescue teams had to remove the mess and help the people stuck there.
Region-Wide Problems
The Vaishno Devi Yatra suspension is one of many big problems from the rain. The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway (NH-44) is closed for the third day in a row. Landslides and falling rocks along the road stop people from traveling.
Other roads, like the Ramnagar-Udhampur and Jangalwar-Thathri routes, have damage or are blocked by landslides and flash floods. Officers say that at least four people died because of the rain in the Doda district.
Rivers Close to Overflowing
The constant rain made rivers and streams in Jammu bigger. Several are either close to or over their limit. The Tawi River went over its 20-foot point in Udhampur, and the Basanter River in Samba did the same.
The Central Water Commission said there could be flooding from the Tawi River, which has lots of water. Government people want residents to stay away from rivers, streams, and places where landslides could happen because things are still rough.
Official Help and Warnings
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said things are serious and told officers to be ready. The state also gave out helpline numbers for ten districts to help people during this time.
The IMD expects heavy rain to keep going and have the red alert out through Wednesday. They think there could be cloudbursts and flash floods in high places, adding to the danger.
Two J&K Monsoon Deaths in Reasi and Kathua
A Big Problem
The weather shows that the area can have bad monsoons. Jammu City had some of the highest single-day rainfall ever. Because this keeps happening, it shows they need to fix the area for disasters, especially around the yatra site. Rescue teams are ready, but people’s lives are still at risk while it rains.
