Pilgrimage to the cave shrine of Vaishno Devi within the Trikuta Hills of Jammu and Kashmir’ Reasi district will resume from Sunday after remaining suspended for nearly five months in sight of the coronavirus pandemic, officials said on Saturday.
The yatra was suspended on March 18.
Ramesh Kumar, the Chief military officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVSB) said the pilgrimage will resume from tomorrow, and within the first week there shall be a cap of two ,000 pilgrims every day of which 1,900 would be from Jammu and Kashmir and therefore the remaining 100 from outside.
The situation are going to be reviewed thereafter and decisions are going to be taken accordingly, he said.
“People are going to be allowed to undertake the pilgrimage after registration only through online so as to avoid any assembly at the yatra registration counter.”
The pilgrims are going to be required to put in Aarogya Setu App on their mobile phones. Wearing face masks and face cover is mandatory and that they will need to undergo thermal scanning at yatra entry points, the SMVSB CEO said.
Children below 10 years, pregnant women, persons with comorbidities and people above 60 years are advised to avoid the pilgrimage, he said, adding the advisory for this group are going to be revisited when things normalises.
Kumar said traditional routes — from Katra to Bhawan via Banganga, Adhkuwari and Sanjichhat — are going to be used for rising and Himkoti route-Tarakote Marg are going to be used for returning from Bhawan.
COVID negative report of the pilgrims from outside Jammu and Kashmir and also from the red zone districts of the Union Territory are going to be checked at the helipad and yatra entry points at Darshani Deodi, Banganga, Katra.
“Only those with negative reports are going to be allowed to maneuver towards Bhawan. Ponies, pithus and palkis won’t be allowed to ply on the tracks initially,” he said.
“For the convenience and luxury of pilgrims, all supplementary facilities found out by the Board like battery operated vehicles, passenger ropeway and helicopter services will ply by strictly following social distancing norms and other precautionary measures,” Kumar added.
Booking and sitting of pilgrims in Atka Aarti area and Shradha Suman Vishesh Pooja won’t be allowed till further orders.
“Cloakrooms are going to be allowed to open but blanket stores will remain closed, initially. of these measured are going to be reviewed fortnightly,” the CEO added.
