A fire broke out under suspicious circumstances on Friday in the Trikuta mountain region behind Ardhkuwari at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi. Efforts are currently being made by the Shrine Board administration and concerned departments to extinguish the fire.
The affected area is located quite far from the pilgrimage route, ensuring that the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage remains unaffected. The fire has impacted areas such as Sukhal Nala and Suraj Kund on the Trikuta mountain. However, strong winds are causing the scope of the fire to expand.
On Friday evening, flames and plumes of smoke were visible amidst the dry bushes spread across the hilly terrain. Due to the area being inaccessible and located at a high altitude, authorities are facing difficulties in bringing the fire under control. As a precautionary measure, surveillance has been increased in the affected region.
Security Tightened Ahead Of Republic Day Celebrations
The Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has reviewed security and pilgrimage arrangements in Katra ahead of the Republic Day celebrations. In a meeting chaired by CEO Sachin Kumar Vaishya, emphasis was placed on ensuring multi-layered security, crowd management, and a smooth pilgrimage.
During the meeting, the Superintendent of Police (Katra) and the Commandant of the CRPF stated that comprehensive security arrangements are being implemented for the Republic Day celebrations and pilgrimage regulations. These measures include:
- Deployment of Quick Response Teams (QRT).
- Coordinated patrolling.
- A layered security grid involving the police, CRPF, Army and other paramilitary forces.