Vaishno Devi shrine track hit by landslide, yatra continues via old route
Synopsis
A monsoon landslide near Himkoti on the Vaishno Devi shrine track knocked out the battery car service on 8 July, but the Shrine Board's rapid debris-clearance response kept the yatra moving — hundreds of pilgrims rerouted to the old track without missing a beat.
Key Takeaways
A landslide struck the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine track near Himkoti on 8 July following heavy rainfall.
The landslide occurred on the new track in Katra , Reasi district , Jammu and Kashmir.
The battery car service was temporarily suspended; the yatra continued via the old route .
The Shrine Board immediately deployed men and machinery to clear debris from the affected stretch.
Hundreds of pilgrims continued their 13-kilometre trek to the shrine at 5,200 feet without interruption.
A landslide triggered by heavy rainfall struck the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine track on Wednesday evening, temporarily disrupting the battery car service on the new route but leaving the ongoing yatra unaffected, officials said. Hundreds of pilgrims continued their trek to and from the shrine atop the Trikuta Hills in Katra, Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir.
Where and How It Happened
According to officials, the landslide occurred near Himkoti on the new track leading to the shrine, following a spell of heavy rain on 8 July. The debris came down on the route that serves the battery car service, which was temporarily suspended as a result. The yatra, however, was diverted to the old track without interruption.
Shrine Board Response
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board moved swiftly, deploying personnel and machinery to clear the debris from the affected stretch. Officials confirmed that the clearance operation was launched immediately after the landslide was reported. The battery car service remained suspended until the route could be made safe, while pilgrim footfall on the old track continued unhindered.
Impact on Pilgrims
Despite the disruption, hundreds of devotees pressed on with their 13-kilometre trek from the base camp at Katra, using the alternate old route to reach the shrine situated at an altitude of 5,200 feet in the Trikuta Mountains. The shrine, one of the most visited Hindu pilgrimage sites in India, draws millions of devotees annually and any disruption to access routes is closely monitored by authorities.
About the Shrine
The Vaishno Devi Temple is dedicated to the goddess Mata Vaishno Devi — also venerated as Vaishnavi, Trikuta, and Sherawali — who is regarded as a manifestation of Shakti and is self-manifest at the shrine as three Pindis representing Mahakali, Mahalakshmi, and Mahasaraswati. The shrine is accessible by foot trek or helicopter from Katra and remains one of the most significant pilgrimage destinations in Jammu and Kashmir.
Landslides triggered by monsoon rainfall are a recurring challenge along the Vaishno Devi track, and the Shrine Board maintains contingency protocols to keep the yatra operational through alternate routes during such events.
Point of View
And the Shrine Board's ability to reroute pilgrims swiftly reflects years of contingency planning. What deserves scrutiny is the longer-term infrastructure question: the new track and battery car corridor were built to ease congestion, yet remain vulnerable to the same rainfall patterns that have always threatened these slopes. A reactive debris-clearance model works in the short run, but the volume of pilgrims — millions annually — demands more resilient slope-stabilisation investment before a more serious incident forces the issue.
NationPress
9 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Was the Vaishno Devi yatra stopped due to the landslide on 8 July?
No, the yatra was not stopped. While the battery car service on the new track was temporarily suspended, pilgrims continued their trek via the old route without interruption.
Where exactly did the landslide occur on the Vaishno Devi track?
The landslide occurred near Himkoti on the new track leading to the Vaishno Devi shrine, atop the Trikuta Hills in Katra town, Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir.
What caused the Vaishno Devi track landslide?
Heavy rainfall on Wednesday evening, 8 July, triggered the landslide on the new shrine track near Himkoti, according to officials.
What did the Shrine Board do after the landslide?
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board immediately deployed personnel and machinery to clear the debris from the affected route and diverted pilgrims to the old track.
How far is the Vaishno Devi shrine from the base camp at Katra?
The Vaishno Devi shrine is approximately 13 kilometres from the base camp at Katra and sits at an altitude of 5,200 feet in the Trikuta Mountains. Pilgrims can reach it by foot trek or helicopter.
