JAMMU — A command and control centre to ensure the safety of Vaishnodevi yatris will be operationalised at Katra town in Reasi district by the first week of May, a top official said Friday. Chairing a high-level security meeting of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine board (SMVDSB), CEO Anshul Garg reviewed the security preparedness […]
JAMMU — Two men were booked for allegedly impersonating pony service providers using fake documents on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi route in Jammu and Kashmir”s Reasi district, officials said. During routine patrolling near Shri Geeta Mata Mandir, police team intercepted a man identifying as one Puran Singh. On verifying, police found his name to […]
REASI — Thousands of pilgrims flocked the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Trikuta hills of Jammu and Kashmir as the nine-day Chaitra Navratri festival began on Sunday. Heavy security arrangements, including AI-enabled CCTV cameras and drones, have been deployed at the base camp of the bhawan and along the route to avert any untoward incident, […]
JAMMU — A woman pilgrim from Delhi was arrested after a loaded pistol was recovered from her possession at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, officials said on Tuesday. Jyoti Gupta, who claimed to be a retired police constable, was intercepted with the weapon and six rounds […]
JAMMU — Social media influencer Orhan Awatramani, better known as Orry, was among eight people booked for allegedly consuming alcohol at a hotel in Katra, the base camp for the pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, police said on Monday. The FIR was registered against the eight for “violating the law of […]
JAMMU — Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on Tuesday that the government will develop pilgrim tourism circuits in Jammu to encourage pilgrims visiting the Mata Vaishnodevi shrine to tour various other tourist destinations in the region. Noting that one crore pilgrims visit the Vaishnodevi shrine annually, Abdullah said if the government could […]
JAMMU — A driver from Himachal Pradesh was killed and 17 pilgrims were injured when a bus returning from Mata Vaishno Devi shrine skidded off the road and plunged into a 30-feet gorge near here Saturday evening, officials said. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah expressed grief over the accident and lauded the rescue teams and officials […]
JAMMU — The helicopter and ropeway service at the Vaishno Devi shrine remained suspended on Thursday as high-altitude areas of Jammu and Kashmir experienced snowfall while the plains, including Jammu city, were lashed by rains, ending a prolonged dry spell, officials said. Jammu division had recorded an 83 per cent rainfall deficit and Kashmir Valley […]
JAMMU — Authorities have extended by two more months the ban on the sale, possession and consumption of liquor and non-vegetarian food in Katra, the base camp for pilgrims visiting Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, officials said on Sunday. The prohibition will be enforced on the 12-km track from Katra […]
JAMMU — The upcoming Delhi-Srinagar train connectivity is expected to further boost pilgrimage to Mata Vaishno Devi, a top shrine board official said. In view of this, a pilgrim facilitation centre has also been set up at the Katra railway station to enable people to complete registration for the pilgrimage conveniently, the official said. Chief […]