Major fire in Trikuta Hills, Vaishno Devi yatra suspended from new track

Katra (Jammu and Kashmir): The pilgrimage yatra to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Cave Shrine was suspended from new battery car track on Wednesday afternoon after a major fire broke out in Trikuta Hills in Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra district.

“‘A devastating fire broke out in Trikuta Hills of Mata Vaisnho Devi at new battery car track,” said Deputy Commisioner Reasi P Ramaswamy G.

He said the Yatra has been suspended on new battery car track while pilgrims are being allowed to use traditional old track to perform pilgrimage.

“The registration slip counter was closed at 02:00 hrs,” he said, adding that by afternoon, 20,000 pilgrims had registered themselves for the yatra.

“Around 25-30 thousand devotees from across the country, are stranded in Katra due to the closure of registration counter to avoid rush on old track in view of forest fire,” Ramaswamy G added. (ANI)