Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Sept 8: After remaining suspended for four days, pilgrimage to holy cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi ji was resumed this morning but the yatris were allowed to proceed to the shrine only till 3.40 pm so that they reached the Bhawan before the midnight.
The pilgrims were only allowed to proceed to the Bhawan from old track from Adh-Kunwari and from Sanji Chat, they were diverted to Bhairon Ghati as Sanji Chat-Bhawan track has still not been cleared of boulders.
Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) CEO Dr Mandeep K Bhandari said the yatra was restored at 9 am today after suspension of 4 days as weather improved considerably and the track was cleared of boulders from selected areas.
About 17,700 pilgrims left Katra, the base camp of the shrine, for Bhawan till 3.40 pm after which the yatra was stopped.
“The limited number of yatris were allowed as only one track was open from Sanji Chat to Bhawan and moreover from Sanji Chat onwards the pilgrims were being diverted through Bhairon Ghati,’’ Dr Bhandari said, adding the yatra was stopped at 3.40 pm to ensure that it progressed smoothly and, if required, there was sufficient space at Bhawan, Sanji Chat and Adh-Kunwari etc to accommodate the pilgrims.
“The yatra was progressing smoothly and well before midnight, all yatris would reach the Bhawan and have darshan,” the CEO said, adding tomorrow the Shrine Board would start registration of pilgrims earlier than today.
However, the route of the pilgrims would remain same tomorrow also as the Shrine Board has decided not to open new track from Adh-Kunwari to Bhawan and Sanji Chat to Bhawan so far till they were cleared of landslides and declared fit for the pilgrimage.
Yatra was temporarily suspended from Katra onwards on September 4 after 4 pm due to incessant heavy rains over last three days.
Dr Bhandari visited the entire track along with officers and Engineers of the Shrine Board and took stock of the ongoing works of clearing of track, restoration of water and power supply and provisioning of other logistics enroute and in Bhawan area till late last evening.
The movement of the pilgrims is being continuously monitored, he said, adding that the track from Sanji Chat to Bhawan via Bhairon temple is narrow and it involved steep climb, particularly between Bhawan and Bhairon Temple.
In view of the fact that ponies cannot be allowed beyond Sanji Chat, the pilgrims should start their journey for the pilgrimage via this route only if they are in good state of health and do not have any underlying cardiac or other such ailment, Dr Bhandari said.
The CEO further informed that efforts are afoot to clear all the tracks leading to the shrine and fully restore electricity and water supply to all the establishments and tracks. PHE and PDD authorities and workers are continuing with their efforts for the purpose, he said.
Further, clearing the debris from the track which has come down from the slopes due to continuous spell of rain over the past few days was still going on and might take a couple of days to make it worthy of Yatra movement.
Superintending Engineer and Executive Engineer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board are camping at the locations for ensuring that the track is through.
Dr Bhandari said that considering the entire situation, the Shrine Board has decided to open the track via Sanji Chat-Bhairon Ghati only this morning. For ensuring that pilgrims cover the journey during the day time only, in the interest of safety of pilgrims, the yatra slip issuance from Katra was stopped at 3.40 pm today, he said.
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