Sun shines, Vaishnodevi yatra resumes

New Delhi: The pilgrimage to the Vaishnodevi temple in Jammu, suspended because of unseasonal rains and snow in the last three days, resumed on Tuesday afternoon.

"As the weather conditions have improved and the sun has come out, we have resumed the Yatra at 1545 hours," news agency PTI quoted the Additional Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board (SMVSB), Puneet Kumar as saying.

The Board had earlier on Tuesday had announced suspension of the Yatra for another day in view of the snow and rainfall that had claimed five lives on Monday.

Kumar was also quoted as saying that after the stranded pilgrims in Adhkuwari and Bhawan, numbering about 5,000, have their darshan, another 10,000 stranded pilgrims at Katra, the base camp of the pilgrimage, would be allowed for onward journey to the shrine depending on the weather.

All the 15 pilgrims, who were hospitalised after they fell ill due to intense cold, were out of danger and recovering slowly, Kumar said.

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