Forest fire suspends Vaishno Devi yatra
JAMMU: Following a raging fire on the Trikuta Hills, the Vaishno Devi Yatra, which has been witnessing an average footfall of 35,000 pilgrims a day, was suspended on Wednesday afternoon.
Over 10,000 pilgrims were left stranded in the Katra base camp while another 3,000, a part of the 25,000 pilgrims who were registered by 3.30pm for day’s trek, were moved to safer place near Himkoti Marg.
A shrine board official said by 3.30pm, 25,000 pilgrims had registered at the base camp for their journey to the cave shrine. “After the fire incident, we immediately suspended the yatra from Ban Ganga and Tarakote Marg.”
“Two MI-17 helicopters and a light utility helicopter were pressed into service to douse the flames. It is being controlled by over 200 ground staff deployed by the CRPF and the shrine board. All pilgrims are safe,” he said.
“More than 10,000 pilgrims are in Katra waiting for the resumption of the pilgrimage,” he said.
“Around 25,000 pilgrims were already on their way to the shrine when forest fire broke out around 2pm and the call to suspend the yatra from both routes was taken at 3pm. By that time, most of the pilgrims had reached the bhawan,” Katra station house officer Surinder Samyal said.
“Pilgrims stranded at the bhawan are being evacuated through a new track. Pilgrims at Katra are not allowed to resume their journey to the cave shrine,” said an official, adding that the pilgrimage is likely to resume on Thursday.
Vinod Kumar, 45, a pilgrim from Rohtak, said: “The authorities have suspended the yatra for our safety and we have to abide by their decision.”