J&K suspends Vaishno Devi yatra, bans inter-state buses

Arteev Sharma

Tribune News Service

Jammu, March 18

As per Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board spokesperson, the decision to close the pilgrimage has been taken “in view of the advisories issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the J&K Administration, considering Covid spread.

“This has been done to ensure the safety of pilgrims and the people at large. The pilgrims are requested not to plan their visit to the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi till the situation gets normal completely. However, the rituals shall be performed at the holy cave shrine as earlier,” the spokesperson said.

In another decision, the Jammu district administration ordered a complete ban on the entry of devotees to various temples, mosques, gurdwaras and churches under the National Disaster Management Act-2005 with immediate effect till March 31.

“These restrictions will apply to all major events (Navratras/ Shab-i-Miraj/Friday prayers) in the respective worship places till March 31,” Jammu District Magistrate Sushma Chauhan, who is

the chairperson of the Dist-

rict Disaster Management Authority, said in an order here on Wednesday evening.

The administration has also made an appeal to all foreign tourists not to visit J&K till further orders. It, however, said any foreign tourist or visitor arriving in J&K would be quarantined. The administration also announced 100 per cent quarantine for all visitors from the UT of Ladakh.

Meanwhile, J&K Transport Commissioner Pardeep Kumar, in an order, said no inter-state buses would be allowed to enter the UT with immediate effect till further orders. “It is also ordered that buses belonging to J&K, which are at present outside the UT, shall not carry any outsider while returning,” Kumar added.

Udhampur, Rajouri teachers to go off duty

The district administrations of Udhampur and Rajouri have exempted all private and government schoolteachers, except those engaged in conducting board exams, from performing their duties with immediate effect. However, the teachers have been asked not to leave the station.