Jammu, Sep 16: The yatra to the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra town, nestled in Trikuta Hills in Reasi district, after having remained suspended for 22 days, will resume on Wednesday, September 17, 2025.  However, the commencement of Yatra will, again, be subject to “favourable weather conditions.”

“Vaishno Devi Yatra shall resume from September 17, 2025 (Wednesday), subject to favourable weather conditions. Devotees are requested to stay updated through official communication channels,” Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) posted on its official ‘X’ handle.

The news of the commencement of Yatra has enthused both the pilgrims and the traders as Navratras are just around the corner.

The persisting suspension of the Vaishno Devi Yatra had caused trepidation among the trader community.

Holy shrine draws a huge rush of devotees during the auspicious occasion of Navratras every year. Navratras will begin from September 22.

Yatra, suspended since August 26, 2025, was earlier scheduled to recommence on Sunday, September 14, 2025. However, due to unrelenting rains at Bhawan and the track, on September 13, SMVDSB postponed its decision to recommence Yatra till further orders.

Weather conditions continued to remain inclement across Reasi district, including Katra, amid recurrent incidents of landslides along the Yatra track on Sunday, September 14, 2025.

Meanwhile, in a compassionate outreach under Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, troops of White Knight Corps, in concert with the Indian Air Force and other civilian agencies, including the district administration, provided essential food supplies to disconnected residents of the village of Sarhi in Reasi district.

The ration supplies were airlifted to the rain-affected Sarhi village in Bhomag, isolated due to multiple landslides on the Reasi–Sarhi (via Tote) road, while the alternative Udhampur–Sarhi (via Moungri) route was blocked after the Thathi bridge was washed away.

“Although adequate ration stock is currently available, precautionary measures are being taken to avoid any shortages,” Deputy Commissioner Nidhi Malik said.

She emphasised that this intervention ensured that essential commodities could reach the residents despite the challenging terrain and adverse conditions.

The Deputy Commissioner further informed that reconstruction of the Thathi bridge was being taken up on priority with army support, while alternate routes and manual transportation options were also being explored.

“The timely effort ensured much-needed sustenance and relief for the affected families during this challenging period. The operation reflects the Armed Forces’ enduring ethos of “Seva aur Suraksha”, reaffirming its commitment to serve, support, and stand with the local populace in times of need. It also strengthens the deep bond of trust between the Armed Forces and the people,” the Army said.

Jammu, Sep 16: A deputation of the All Jammu and Kashmir Bag Association called on J&K BJP President Sat Sharma at the party headquarters, Trikuta Nagar, Jammu, and submitted a memorandum requesting revision of Goods and Services Tax (GST) on school bags.

The deputation, representing Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) engaged in the manufacturing and supply of school and college bags, highlighted that while essential educational items such as books, stationery, shoes, tiffin boxes and water bottles fall under the 5 percent GST category, school bags remain excluded and are taxed higher.

They stressed that school bags are indispensable educational utility items and largely cater to students and middle-class families, a highly price-sensitive segment.

Sat Sharma appreciated the concerns raised and said that the PM Modi-led government has always remained sensitive to the aspirations of the people. He stated that the GST reforms under the present government have already brought relief to people’s pockets, and the issues raised will certainly receive sympathetic consideration at appropriate forum.

Jammu, Sep 16: The nearly month-long closure of the Jammu-Srinagar national highway has disrupted the supply chain between the two divisions of the Union Territory, causing apple prices to drop sharply at the Jammu fruit mandi.

With truck consignments delayed by several days, perishable apples are arriving in poor condition, forcing traders to sell at drastically reduced rates. Growers and traders alike are now grappling with heavy financial losses, raising concerns over the future stability of the region’s apple trade amid continued transport hurdles.

The 270-km Jammu-Srinagar national highway, the only all-weather road linking Kashmir with the rest of the country, suffered extensive damage at several places, especially between Nashri and Udhampur, in the aftermath of record rainfall on August 26 and 27, leading to its closure for vehicular movement.

The traffic on the highway was partially restored last week, but hundreds of trucks, including those carrying apples to different markets within and outside Jammu and Kashmir, remained stranded for days, causing extensive damage to the produce.

“It is a difficult period for everyone…the road has done more damage than the rain. Some of the trucks, which had left Kashmir on September 1, are reaching here today (September 16),” Sandeep Mahajan, a trader at Narwal Mandi, the main terminal market for fresh vegetables and fruit in Jammu, told PTI.

He said this is the peak apple season and “the government needs to take corrective measures to minimise the losses”.

“What is the survival rate of the perishable goods when a truck takes a fortnight to reach Jammu market from Kashmir?” he said, claiming that 60 per cent of the produce is almost damaged, forcing them to sell the apples at throwaway prices.

He said the introduction of a freight train to carry apples from central Kashmir’s Budgam to New Delhi via Jammu cannot be an alternative, given its limited load carriage and non-coverage of all fruit-producing areas, especially south Kashmir.

Randeer Gupta, another trader, said they are staring at the total loss of their money this time.

“I do not think it will be more than five per cent of what we have invested. The boxes worth Rs 1,000 are selling at Rs 100 and Rs 200. The apple-laden trucks are taking more than 10 days to reach here,” he added.

He said the traders have invested a lot of money with the hope of overcoming past losses. “This time, the grower as well as the trader are ruined.”

Manik Gupta said he has been trading in the market for five decades, but had never seen such a situation.

“We have seen ups and downs in the past, but this time, it is total destruction. Almost 60 per cent of the crop has been destroyed,” he said, adding that given the situation, the growers in Kashmir are reluctant to load their produce because they have suffered huge losses.

He said the goods reaching the Jammu market are of no value.

“After farmers, the traders who have invested a lot of money are also suffering. We have already given more than 50 per cent of payments almost six months in advance. Some people have taken loans and others invested all their earnings,” he pointed out.

He said the apple season lasts for three months and the government should ensure smooth transportation of the horticulture produce, which is the backbone of the J&K economy.

“We have heard that controlled atmosphere stores are already full in Kashmir. The government must work hard to facilitate the smooth transportation of horticulture produce from the valley,” he noted.