The pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills remained suspended for the ninth day on Wednesday as the base camp Katra recorded a rainfall of over 200 mm — highest in Jammu region — during the past 24 hours, officials said.

The yatra to the shrine was suspended on August 26, a couple of hours before a major landslide triggered by rains struck the old route near Ardhkuwari and killed 34 pilgrims and injured 20 others.

Though the pilgrimage remains suspended, the shrine itself is open with its priests performing daily prayers and rituals.

With the yatra cancelled, some pilgrims who have reached Katra are offering prayers at ‘Darshani Deodi’ (main entrance on the way to the shrine).

Darshani Deodi represents the first ‘darshan’ of the shrine.

Pramod, a devotee who had come from Nagpur in Maharashtra, told PTI, “I booked my flight, train and hotel tickets about three months ago to offer my prayers at the shrine. But the pilgrimage is suspended, so I am offering my prayers from here (Darshani Deodi) before returning home.” However, he said he was not disappointed and vowed to return and “wait for a call from the Mata”.

The incessant rains have led to an increase in water level in the rivers and streams, especially the Banganga river, which passes through the town.

The officials said a decision to resume the yatra will be taken once the conditions improve and the 12-km twin track to the hilltop shrine is cleared for the devotees. (Agencies)

JAMMU: A woman and her daughter were killed in a house collapse, while 40 persons were trapped in a flooded village as torrential rains pounded Jammu region for the second day on Wednesday, officials said.

The heavy rains led to increase in the water level in rivers, streams and rivulets which are flowing close or above danger mark, while major roads, including all-weather Srinagar-Jammu national highway, remained closed for the second day owing to multiple landslides and landslips between Udhampur and Banihal, the officials said.

They said a mother-daughter duo was killed when their ‘kacha’ house collapsed due to rains in Kangri village of Sunderbani in Rajouri district early Wednesday. Bodies of the deceased were recovered from the debris and shifted to hospital for postmortem.

At least 40 persons were trapped in Garkhal village of Akhnoor due to overflowing of river Chenab which was flowing four feet above the evacuation level of 42 feet this morning, the officials said, adding State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) and police teams have been rushed to the village for shifting them to safety.

At 8 am, the water level at Tawi in Jammu was recorded at 15 feet, which is one feet flow danger mark, the officials said.

They said the fourth Tawi bridge near Bhagwati Nagar in the city was closed for vehicular traffic late Tuesday evening as a precautionary measure. The bridge suffered damages in the August 26 record rainfall and the connectivity was restored by the army which constructed a bailey bridge on August 29.

Issuing a fresh weather forecast at 8.50 pm on Tuesday, a spokesman of the Meteorological department predicted a spell of heavy to very heavy rain at many places over Jammu, Kathua, Reasi, Doda, Udhampur, Rajouri and Ramban district during the next 14-16 hours.

He also predicted moderate to heavy rain or brief intense showers at many places of Pir Panjal range and south Kashmir with heavy rain over Kishtwar, Poonch, Anantnag, Shopian and Kulgam during next 14-16 hours.

“There is a possibility of cloud burst, flash floods, landslides and water logging at few vulnerable places,” the spokesman had said.

He said significant overnight rainfall was recorded in most parts of Jammu region with Reasi experiencing the highest 203 mm of rainfall till 8.30 am followed by Katra (193 mm), Batote in Ramban (157.3 mm), Doda (114 mm), Banihal (95 mm), Jammu (81 mm), Ramban (82 mm), Rajouri (57.4 mm) and Kishtwar (50 mm).

According to the Traffic department, Jammu-Srinagar national highway, Mughal road, Jammu-Srinagar-Leh national highway, Jammu-Kishtwar national highway are closed for vehicular movement following multiple landslides and shooting of stones from the hillocks.

“People are advised not to undertake journeys on these roads till the weather improves and restoration work is completed,” a spokesman of the department said.

About Jammu-Srinagar national highway, he said the stretch of land on the upper side of road has been sunk at Tharad in Udhampur while landslides, mudslides and shooting of stones were reported at multiple places, prompting suspension of the traffic for the second day.

The spokesman said one tube each of Lankhanpur-Madhopur and Sahar Khad bridges along Jammu-Pathankot road in Kathua district were damaged by floods last week but the traffic on the highway is continuing through the second tube.

Police and SDRF personnel were seen using a public addressing system to inform people living in low lying areas adjoining the river banks in Jammu to relocate to safer places.

Police and district administration have also issued advisors asking people to remain cautious and stay away from the swollen water bodies and vulnerable areas prone to landslides, while the authorities extended the closure of all government and private schools on Wednesday.

All colleges and universities have also suspended class work and all examinations owing to inclement weather for the day. The Board of School Education has also announced the postponement of exams for classes 10 and 11 scheduled for September 3.