Travel News, March, 2007

Back to Index

Vaishno Devi pilgrims resume yatra

          Katra ( Jammu and Kashmir ): Jammu and Kashmir Governor Lt. Gen. (Retired) S K Sinha visited Katra, the base camp of Vaishno Devi, on Tuesday. He is evaluating the problems of traffic blockade in the wake of incessant rains. Lodging, medicare and other requirements of the stranded pilgrims are being looked into. Sinha expressed profound shock and grief over the death of four pilgrims due to hypothermia and one due to cardiac arrest and said that Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board will assist in the transporting the bodies to their respective home towns. "Whatever other assistance would be required will be considered," the Governor said, adding that in view of timely preventive measures taken by the Board officials no casuality occurred due to land slide or shooting stones, a general phenomenon in mountains in the wake of rains. Sinha also expressed satisfaction over the safe arrival of around 5000 pilgrims at the base camp. Lt.Gen.Sinha went round the rooms and dormitories besides the kitchen to see the arrangements made for the pilgrims. He was accompanied by his Principal Secretary and the Chief Executive Officer, SMVDSB, Dr Arun Kumar, besides other high ranking police and Board officials. Additional Chief Executive Officer Puneet Kumar said that water and power supply remained suspended for several hours. In the consequence, the water supply to Bhavan and other points got snapped due to snag in the feeders. The engineers are working and have succeeding in operation of one feeder.

          The pilgrimage to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi on the new track from Indraprastha to Manokamna Bhavan was stopped in view of incessant rains and cold view conditions on Trikuta Hills. Temperature dipped to five degree Celsius on Tuesday. All the moving pilgrims were advised not to move up or down without rain coats or umbrellas. Due to incessant rain, heavy winds and storm for over 35 hours, the weather in Katra, Adhkuwari and Bhawan had changed drastically and it had become very cold and chilly. Meanwhile, the pilgrimage to the holy cave resumed from Katra at around 3.30 p.m. on Tuesday. Shrine Board officials are monitoring the situation, keeping the weather conditions in mind. The Governor also spoke to Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on phone on the overall situation in the State in the wake of incessant rains and snowfall in the Kashmir Valley and upper reaches.
-March 14,  2007