Jammu & Kashmir

Over 14,000 devotees arrive in JK for Vaishno Devi Yatra, 48 test COVID positive

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Jammu: Amid the steep rise in COVID cases in India, over 14,000 devotees have arrived in Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra to take part in the yatra to Vaishno Devi Shrine during the Navratri festival. On the day first, of the festival, 48 devotees have tested positive for Coronavirus.

This comes even as India reported an all-time high of 1,84,372 infections in the last 24 hours.

Meanwhile, the district administration in Reasi and Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has ordered strict implementation of the COVID related guidelines.

The shrine board has already fixed a maximum limit of 25,000 pilgrims per day. This is a rule which is in place for several months now.

Last year, the yatra was suspended after the outbreak of the pandemic on March 16. However, after a five-month hiatus, the yatra resumed on August 16, but in a regulated manner.

Initially, the shrine board had fixed a cap of 2,000 pilgrims per day. Later, as the situation improved, the ceiling was increased from time to time.

As per the officials, about 14,000 pilgrims including JK locals and outsider have paid obeisance at the shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi located on Trikuta hills on day 1 of the Navratri festival. However, the final figures are yet to be released by the authorities.

As many as 48 pilgrims from outside JK were found to be positive on day 1 of the festival till 5 pm.

 

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