Vaishno Devi pilgrimage stopped in view of coronavirus scare

Tribune News Service
Jammu, March 18

The Jammu and Kashmir administration announced on Wednesday closure of the Vaishno Devi yatra and banning of all interstate buses as part of the precautionary measures to arrest the spread of coronavirus.

On Tuesday, CEO, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Ramesh Kumar had appealed pilgrims to postpone their visit to the holy cave shrine till normalisation of the situation.

The Shrine Board had already curtailed Atka Aarti slots, closed Garbhjoon cave at Adhkuwari and restricted yatra in groups.

Jammu and Kashmir has reported three COVID-19 cases, while Ladakh has reported eight. A total of 147 cases have been reported in India and three people have died while undergoing treatment. 

All temples in Kangra and Una districts of Himachal were closed down on Tuesday by the respective district administrations.

Kangra Deputy Commissioner Rakesh Prajapati said the Shiva temple in Baijnath was closed on Monday. The Brajeshwari Devi temple in Kangra, the Jawalamukhi temple, the Chamunda temple and the Baglamukhi temples were closed on Tuesday, he said.