Excelsior Correspondent
KATRA, Sept 5: The pilgrimage to world famous holy cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Ji is proceeding smoothly and picking up pace with each passing day. Keeping this in view, the quota for pilgrims from outside J&K has been enhanced to 500 pilgrims per day out of a ceiling of 2,000 pilgrims daily.
It may be recalled that the pilgrimage of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi (SMVD) Shrine had resumed from August 16.
Giving further details in this regard, Ramesh Kumar, Chief Executive Officer, SMVD Shrine Board said, booking by the devotees for Shradha Suman Vishesh Pooja has also commenced through online mode. He informed that accommodations of the Shrine Board at Bhawan, Adhkuwari, Katra and Jammu have also been thrown open for the pilgrims following all the prescribed SOPs.
For the ease and comfort of pilgrims, all other supplementary facilities set up by the Board like the Battery Operated Vehicles, Passenger Ropeway and Helicopter services are also operating smoothly by strictly following the social distancing norms and other precautionary measures.
Free Langar at Tarakote Marg and Prasad Kendra at Sanjichhat have been operationalised by the Board for the facility of pilgrims besides opening eateries in the Shrine area, en-route Bhawan.
A handout stated that pilgrims are allowed to undertake the pilgrimage after registration through online mode only in order to avoid any crowd at Yatra Registration Counters.
It is also mandatory for the pilgrims to wear face masks and every pilgrim proceeding on the pilgrimage is being scanned through thermal scanners at Yatra entry points.
The children below the age of 10 years, pregnant women, persons with co-morbidities and persons above the age of 60 years have been advised to avoid the pilgrimage in the interest of their own safety from infection of COVID-19.
The COVID negative test report of the pilgrims from outside J&K and also from Red Zone areas of J&K are being checked at the helipad and Yatra entry points at Darshani Deodi, Banganga, Katra.
Only those with negative reports shall be allowed to move towards the Bhawan, the handout stated.
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