Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, May 19: As the devastating fire on Trikuta hills continued for the third consecutive day and engulfed the area near new track, the Shrine Board authorities suspended the battery car service and yatra on this route, which was, however, restored in the late evening.
According to a spokesman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, the pilgrimage was running smoothly throughout the day from the old track while the new track, which was closed with the suspension of battery car service this morning, was also restored by the late evening as fire was controlled, though not completely.
The yatra has now been restored on both the tracks and the Shrine Board officers are personally camping the route for a vigil, the spokesman added.
Till last reports came, the fire blazes were almost controlled though smoke had been emanating from different areas. The yatra was suspended on the new track early this morning after the fire blazes reached near the area.
During the day, IAF helicopters were again pressed into service for fire fighting. Two Mi-17 choppers, carried water from reservoir of the Salal Dam in Reasi and sprinkled it on the fire hit areas thus controlling the blazes to some extent. Around 20 sorties were made by these choppers.
Yesterday also, IAF choppers were used to douse the fire in a ridge near the Katra helipad from where the private heli company’s choppers were shifted to SMVD University to avoid any damage to the flying machines.
The fire broke out on May 17 in the forest area but last night it spread to new track following which, the track was closed and battery car service suspended. More than 200 men, including firemen, police, CRPF men and staff of the Shrine Board were engaged in controlling the fire.
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