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

Our Correspondent

Katra, May 23

Vaishno Devi pilgrimage was suspended from new battery car track on Wednesday afternoon after a major fire broke out in Trikuta Hills in Katra district of Jammu and Kashmir.

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

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

‘’The registration slip counter was closed,’’ he said, adding that by afternoon, 20,000 pilgrims had registered themselves for the yatra.

‘’Around 25,000-30,000 devotees from across the country, are stranded in Katra due to closure of registration counter to avoid rush on old track in view of forest fire,’’ he added.