Vaishno Devi Forest Fire: Battery Car Services To Shrine Suspended. Traditional Tracks Remain Functional

To ensure the safety of the pilgrims, the services were paused due to the strong winds and low visibility in the Trikuta hills.

Vaishno Devi track in J-K's Katra ( Image Source :ANI )

New Delhi: As a precautionary measure by the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, the battery car service to the Shrine was suspended on the new track due to the forest fire in Trikuta hills on Wednesday morning. However, the pilgrimage continues through the traditional track, reported news agency ANI.

A fire was reported in the Trikuta forest range, the abode of the famous shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi, in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir earlier this week. The fire broke out near the Sanji Chhat helipad, in the view of which the Shrine Board authorities had decided to suspend the Helicopter services on Monday. To ensure the safety of the pilgrims, the services were paused due to strong winds and low visibility in the Trikuta hills.

Due to the forest fire in Trikuta hills, yatra and the battery car service were suspended on the new track (route) as a precautionary measure by authorities, this morning. Yatra through traditional track (route) continues: Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Katra, J&K pic.twitter.com/jKRzypqbjJ

— ANI (@ANI) May 18, 2022

The fire that occurred near the Sanji Chhat helipad was brought under control to a great extent, but the Shrine Board suspended the helicopter service to ensure the safety of the pilgrims.

The weather on Monday remained partly cloudy with thundershowers observed at several places in Jammu and Kashmir reported ANI. The regional meteorological department based in Srinagar had predicted partly cloudy weather and thundershowers for the region for next 24 hours.

By Tuesday, the weather cleared and helicopter services resumed, according to ANI.

According to the shrine board's CEO, Anshul Garg, the fire erupted in the Trikuta forest range in Jammu's Reasi (where the Vaishno Devi shrine is located) and had no impact on the pilgrimage but had damaged the forest cover, ANI reported.