Covid negative report not older than 48 hrs a must for pilgrims

J&K: 7 DEATHS, 428 NEW CASES

JAMMU: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board on Monday said pilgrims coming from outside Jammu and Kashmir are required to bring ‘valid Covid-19 negative test report’ not older than 48 hours on their arrival at Katra or else they will not be allowed to undertake the pilgrimage.

The pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi Temple resumed on August 16, nearly five months after it was suspended due to the pandemic on March 18.

The shrine board is abiding with all central health norms to contain the spread of virus. Only 2,000 people are allowed to visit the shrine per day.

Shrine board CEO Ramesh Kumar said, “It was already decided that pilgrims from outside J&K will not be allowed without a valid Covid-19 negative report but we noticed that few yatris were not following the guidelines. Therefore, they were not allowed to undertake the pilgrimage.”

“We have reiterated our guidelines again for the wider dissemination of people living outside the UT. We would like to inform them again that pilgrims from outside J&K must come with valid Covid-19 negative report not older than 48 hours when they reach Katra so as to

Jammu and Kashmir on Monday recorded seven deaths and 428 fresh Covid-19 infections, taking the total number of positive cases in the Union territory to 33,075. Also, 373 more people were cured and discharged from various hospitals. With this, overall recoveries have reached 25,205, which accounts for 76.2% recovery rate. Active cases in the UT stand at 7,246.

Officials said seven more people have succumbed to the disease in Kashmir. The death toll in the UT has risen to 624— 577 in Kashmir and 47 in Jammu division till date. In Kashmir, the highest jump in fresh cases was witnessed in Srinagar where 78 more people tested positive followed by Bandipora at 65 and Budgam at 27. In Jammu division, the highest number of 65 cases in Jammu district.

avoid any hardships. Those without it shall not be allowed under any circumstances.”

For local pilgrims, rapid antigen tests are being conducted at the Katra base camp before allowing them to undertake the yatra.