Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Oct 22: The Jammu and Kashmir Government today ordered regulation of yatra to holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji with only those pilgrims to be allowed to proceed to Trikuta Hills from Katra town of Reasi district who have valid and verifiable RT-PCR/Rapid Antigen Negative Test not older than 72 hours on arrival.
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The latest guidelines were issued today after a detailed assessment of COVID situation in the Union Territory by Chief Secretary Dr Arun Kumar Mehta, who also happens to be the Chairperson State Executive Committee (SEC). The order was based on assessment of the situation with Additional Chief Secretaries Finance and Health and Medical Education, Principal Secretary Home, Principal Secretary PWD, Divisional Commissioners, Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police and other officers by the Chief Secretary on October 16.
While regulating number of yatris to Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine, the Government ordered strict adherence to COVID Appropriate Behaviour and maintenance of Standard Operating Procedure (SOP).
“Valid and verifiable RT-PCR/Rapid Antigen Test of yatri not older than 72 hours of arrival should be made mandatory,” the Government order said.
It added that only those pilgrims should be allowed to visit Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine who don’t show any COVID related symptoms.
“Premises of Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine should be properly sanitized as per the COVID SOP,” the SEC said.
As per the existing guidelines, the Government has fixed a cap of 25,000 pilgrims per day for Mata Vaishno Devi Ji shrine. However, since there was no mention of increase/decrease in the limit, the cap would stay at 25,000, sources said.
During past couple of months especially after ease in second wave of COVID pandemic, the holy cave shrine of Goddess Vaishno Devi Ji had witnessed heavy rush of pilgrims bringing cheers on the face of hoteliers, shopkeepers, pithoowallahs, rehriwallahs, ponniewallahs etc who solely depend on the pilgrimage.
The traders and workers feared that making COVID test mandatory for the pilgrims would lead to decline in rush of the pilgrims resulting in to further slump in the business.
Meanwhile, Jammu and Kashmir today reported 108 new COVID positive cases while the UT of Ladakh recorded 10 new positives.
Eighty seven cases were reported from Kashmir and 21 in Jammu.
Jammu district registered six new cases, Doda five, Reasi four (all travelers who tested positive at Katra Railway Station), Rajouri three while Udhampur, Kathua and Ramban districts reported one case each.
Eleven persons recovered from the virus leaving 140 active positive cases in the Jammu region.
Out of 10 fresh cases reported in Ladakh, nine were registered in Leh district and one in Kargil.
The UT now has 43 active positive cases—42 in Leh and one in Kargil.
Meanwhile, Kashmir today reported 87 fresh cases of COVID-19.
Those who tested positive include 47 from Srinagar, 4 from Baramulla, 14 from Budgam, 2 from Pulwama, 1 from Kupwara, 4 from Anantnag, 1 from Bandipora, 11 from Ganderbal and 3 from Kulgam.
The number of cases in Kashmir division has reached 207,245 including 204,261 recoveries and 2,254 deaths.
The number of active cases in Jammu and Kashmir are 870 including 730 from Kashmir division.
With 52 more recoveries, the tally of total recoveries in Jammu and Kashmir has reached 326,195 which is 98.40 percent of the total cases.
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