Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, May 23:The holy pilgrimage to world famous Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Cave Shrine was suspended today following massive fire on the Trikuta hills.
The pilgrimage was stopped this afternoon on both the tracks, battery car as well as the old track, when the raging fire in the forest area of Trikuta hills since last evening, reached near Himkoti area, informed Dr M K Kumar, Additional CEO of the Shrine Board.
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The fire has engulfed around five kms of area from Himkoti to Saket Point and towards Army helipad site nearby Sanjhi Chhat B/06 Out Post, he added.
Initially the pilgrimage was suspended on new battery car track around 1 pm but after 3 pm, the old track was also closed as the fire reached near Sanjhi Chat.
Even as two helicopters were also pressed into service for sprinkling water and dousing the blazes, which were controlled to some extent by fire fighting team, sources said that the fire once again flared up in the late evening
“Men are on job to douse the flames and the pilgrimage will resume once the fire is fully controlled,” said Anshul Garg, Additional CEO of the Board, who along with Dr M K Kumar was personally supervising the fire fighting operations.
According to Additional SP Katra, Naresh Singh, local Police was also extending all possible help to the Shrine Board in controlling the fire and all pilgrims were safe. Maximum number of pilgrims has been stopped at Katra base camp while those at Bhawan and nearby points have been taken to safer place at Adh-Kunwari, he added.
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