Fire at Vaishno Devi shrine complex, cash counter damaged
A fire broke out at Vaishno Devi shrine complex in Jammu Kashmir’s Reasi district on Tuesday, damaging a cash counter, officials said.
No one was injured in the fire, which broke out from the structure adjoining the ‘Bhawan’ (sanctum sanctorum), the officials said.
Union Minister Jitendra Singh informed that he had spoken to the Reasi DC Charandeep Singh inquiring about the fire that broke out at Vaishno Devi Bhawan and informed that no major losses were reported.
Noting that the situation was under control, Singh said they were keeping a close track of the situation for a few more hours.
According to officials, the fire started around 4.15 pm due to a short circuit and was completely controlled by 5 pm.
Visuals from the scene showed thick smoke billowing out of the building as firefighters worked to douse the flames.
Fire fighting squad of the shrine immediately swung into action after CRPF personnel raised an alarm, the officials said. Some cash and records were gutted in the fire, the officials said.
Millions of pilgrims undertake the 14-km trek that involves a criss-cross path across the mountain-face. Pilgrims may walk up, or take palkhis (palanquins), horses or even helicopters to reach the top.