Vande Bharat train service proves boon
Sanjeev K Sharma
JAMMU, June 20: As the Pahalgam terrorist attack on tourists triggered a drastic fall in number of pilgrims at the world popular shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji in the holy town of Katra which in turn hit the business and livelihood of many linked with the revered pilgrimage, it seems the Goddess has again showered blessings as the tourists have again started visiting the cave shrine and that too in large number giving an impetus to the business in the holy town.
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From the men ferrying pilgrims on the back of their mules and horses, to the hoteliers in Katra, all are busy with the increasing number of Vaishno Devi pilgrims these days, which sources claim remain high on weekend days.
“Though many bookings in the Hotels at Katra were cancelled after the Pahalgam terrorist attack but now the business is again coming on track as faith of the pilgrims is being restored,” said Rakesh Wazir, president of Hotel and Restaurant Association Katra expressing optimism over the pilgrimage to be as it was earlier during normalcy.
He further said that the start of Vande Bharat train services to Katra is also proving a boon for the local business and trade.
“In comparison to the last year, the Hotel bookings are less but still these are very much more than what these used to be after the attack on tourists in Pahalgam (Kashmir),” Wazir said.
Rakesh Roshan Heera, who runs shops at Katra town selling dry fruit as Prasad and other things to the visiting pilgrims, said about 35000-40000 pilgrims were now daily visiting the holy town these days for paying obeisance to the Goddess at the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji which in turn has improved profits for the businesses facilitating the pilgrims.
“Earlier after Pahalgam attack, sales at the shops in Katra had fallen even to Rs. 500 throughout the day but the same has now improved to Rs. 25000 and even more at a single shop per day,” he claimed.
Kabir, 44, a Gujjar man from Dhanu village of Kot Bhalwal in Jammu, who carries the visiting pilgrims at Vaishno Devi shrine on his horse for the last 20 years, informed that now he can easily earn up to Rs. 2000 per day while earlier after the Pahalgam incident, his daily income had fallen to even less than Rs. 500 per day.
Similar were the views of Pithus (porters carrying babies and luggage of the visiting pilgrims on their backs) and palanquin bearers.
Also, the battery run auto-rickshaws, taxis, roadside eateries and others providing services to the visiting pilgrims at Vaishno Devi shrine have claimed that presently their daily earnings have gone up.
However, the concerned authorities are maintaining a strict vigil and improved security cordon has been put in place all along the pilgrimage route and at other vital spots also to prevent any disruptive activity during the pilgrimage at the cave shrine.
Security personnel and cops can be seen at many places checking doubtful persons and vehicles linked with the pilgrimage to thwart any untoward incident at the world revered shrine.
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