The Vaishno Devi Yatra, a pilgrimage to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu and Kashmir, remains suspended for the sixth consecutive day on Sunday, August 31, 2025, due to landslides triggered by continuous rainfall in the region. A devastating landslide near the Vaishno Devi temple in Katra, in the Reasi district, claimed more than 30 lives and injured 20 others. The disaster struck on Tuesday afternoon, around 3 pm, when heavy rains triggered a massive landslide near the Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkuwari, about halfway along the 12-kilometre trek from Katra to the shrine.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has announced the continued suspension of the Yatra, prioritizing the safety of devotees. Katra and the Trikuta Hills, where the Vaishno Devi Shrine is located, have been experiencing heavy rain, making the pilgrimage route unsafe.

Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha has constituted a high-level, three-member committee to investigate the causes of the landslide. The committee, headed by Shaleen Kabra, Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Jal Shakti, Jammu and Kashmir, includes the Divisional Commissioner and the Inspector General of Police, Jammu. The committee will examine the reasons behind the incident, identify any lapses, assess rescue and relief measures, and suggest standard operating procedures to prevent future incidents. The committee is expected to submit its report to the Lieutenant Governor within two weeks.

Stranded pilgrims can avail of free accommodation in Katra. The Katra Hotel Association is offering free lodging in hotels across the town. Families of those receiving treatment at Narayana Hospital have also been provided lodging at the facility. Financial assistance of ₹9 lakh per deceased pilgrim has been announced by Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, with additional aid of ₹4 lakh from the J&K Disaster Department and ₹2 lakh from the Chief Minister's Fund.

How to Claim Refund for Cancelled Booking

With the Vaishno Devi Yatra suspended, pilgrims who have pre-booked services such as helicopter rides, accommodations, and ropeway access are seeking information on refunds. Here's a guide on how to claim refunds for cancelled bookings:

Helicopter Tickets:

• Online Booking: If you booked your helicopter tickets online, the refund will be processed automatically to the bank account used for the booking.
• Cancellation by Shrine Board: If the Shrine Board cancels the helicopter service due to bad weather or unforeseen circumstances, a full refund is initiated to your account/UPI/card within 15 days. You will also receive an email/SMS notification.
• Current/Protocol Heli Ticket: In case of full-day bad weather, the refund shall be processed automatically for all the bookings for the day. In case of online payment, the refund shall be made into the respective bank account of the pilgrims through online mode and in case of cash payment the refund shall be made in cash at the dealing counters.
• Offline Booking: For those who booked offline, you need to visit E&R Niharika, Serli Helipad, Durga Bhawan, and Sanjichhat Helipad for initiation of your refund. After successfully initiating the requisite refund, a refund receipt shall be issued to the pilgrim at the counter. If you cannot report physically due to unavoidable circumstances, you may submit a refund request along with your Booking ID to Online Section at refund@maavaishnodevi.net through your registered Email Id within 03 days, reckoned from the date of journey.

Accommodation:

• Online Booking: For cancellation of pre-booked online rooms as well as dormitory bookings in the accommodations of the Board, pilgrims shall be able to opt for cancellation of their advance bookings of helicopter tickets for travel on Katra-Sanjichhat-Katra Sector and accommodations of the Board. Subsequently, on receipt of such requests, a refund of the amount shall be processed and amount credited back through the same mode as used by a particular devotee for bookings.
• Pilgrims will get 70% refund if they cancel their bookings online on the Shrine Board's website at least four days in advance of the scheduled date of travel or stay.

General Information:

• The Shrine Board has not authorized any agents/agencies to book tickets for any services.
• For any queries or issues, you can contact the Shrine Board's helpdesk or email ceo@maavaishnodevi.net.

Pilgrims are advised to stay updated with official announcements from the SMVDSB regarding the resumption of the Yatra. They should also check their registered email addresses and mobile numbers for refund-related updates.