On Thursday morning, the pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Vaishno Devi in Jammu resumed from Katra, post this was suspended on Wednesday afternoon subsequent to an immense forest fire in the Trikuta Hills, officials said.
Vaishno Devi yatra resumes as choppers brought in to douse forest fire
“The helicopter service between Katra and Shanjichat resumed around 7 am and the pilgrimage via old Ban Ganga route was restarted around 9 am,” an official of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board said.
The official added that Himkoti Marg, where battery cars are operated, that was closed for now but, is all set to be opened by the evening.
Reasi’s senior superintendent of police Tahir Sajjad Bhat said the forest fire has been brought under control.
“After resumption of the Yatra via Ban Ganga, around 10,000 pilgrims have left Katra base camp for the cave shrine by 12 pm on Thursday,” Bhat said.
Bhat added that nearly 10,000 pilgrims, who were left stranded on various stretches, were empty via Bhairon Ghati for the Katra base camp.
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