One pilgrim died and two others were injured when the new Mata Vaishno Devi route was hit by shooting stones and a landslide in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district on Monday. The landslide took place on the route near Panchi, damaging an overhead iron structure.

After the news of the landslide came out, the disaster management team of the Shri Vaishno Devi Shrine Board rushed to the spot for relief and rescue efforts.

The injured pilgrims were shifted to a hospital for treatment.

In the wake of the landslide, movement on the route has been temporarily suspended, and the concerned officials have been directed to clear the route.

The administration has urged pilgrims to practice caution during the yatra and proceed while considering the condition of the route.

Every year, millions of devotees visit the Vaishno Devi Temple. In 2023, the temple witnessed a record number of visitors. Over the past decade, 2023 saw the highest number of devotees, with 9.35 million visiting the temple.

According to official data, 9.35 million people visited the Vaishno Devi Temple located on the Trikuta Hills in the Reasi district of Jammu. The previous record was in 2013, with 9.324 million devotees. Anshul Garg, the Chief Executive Officer of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, mentioned that this was the highest number of pilgrims in the last ten years, with 9.35 million visiting the temple.

Source: India Today