Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Sept 5: About 9200 pilgrims were today rescued and brought back safely from Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan, located at the height of 5200 feet from sea level, after Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) pressed its Disaster Management Force into service and utilised services of para-military and police personnel to bring back the yatris, who had been trapped at Bhawan since last evening following continuous falling of boulders at various places on both tracks between Adh-Kunwari to Bhawan and extreme adverse weather conditions.
“The yatra, which was suspended yesterday afternoon following heavy rains and landslides, was not resumed today as weather conditions further deteriorated. A decision on resumption of yatra will be taken only when the weather improves and track is declared fit for the pilgrimage,” SMVDSB CEO Dr Mandeep K Bhandari told the Excelsior.
He said the Disaster Management Force was pressed into service to bring back safely all pilgrims, who had gone to holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji yesterday till 4 pm when the yatra was suspended. The SMVDSB staff, para-military and police personnel also helped in the rescue operation and by this afternoon all pilgrims had been brought to Katra and they were heading for their respective destinations.
“No pilgrim was injured during the rescue operation today,” the CEO said. It may be mentioned here that three pilgrims of Madhya Pradesh were injured yesterday after being hit by the boulders on old Adh-Kunwari-Bhawan track.
Official sources said about 100 pilgrims, who were stranded at Adh-Kunwari, were shifted in small batches to Katra by late this evening. All of them were safe and were in the process of leaving to their home towns.
Meanwhile, another 4000 to 4500 pilgrims today reached Katra town for proceeding to Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan from different places but they were denied registration and asked to return in view of very bad weather conditions on 13 kilometers track from Katra to Bhawan.
The pilgrims agreed and returned.
Sources said barring Shrine Board staff, para-military forces, police personnel and local shopkeepers, Mata Vaishno Devi Bhawan, Bhairon Ghati and Adh-Kunwari were deserted as the Board decided not to allow any pilgrims to stay on the track due to falling of boulders at some places and continued rains. The helicopter and battery car services to the Bhawan were already suspended.
Sources said the boulders also fell at Ban Ganga near `Gulshan’s langar’ but there were no injuries to anyone. The workers cleared the boulders to keep the track open for rescuing the pilgrims. The boulders were also falling at regular intervals on both tracks between Adh-Kunwari and Bhawan.
The Shrine Board authorities would review the situation and take decision on resumption of yatra only after weather improves, boulders are cleared of the tracks and the routes are declared fit for the pilgrimage. Authorities have appealed to the people intending to visit the holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji to plan their visit only after weather improves and the yatra is restored.
Follow our WhatsApp channel