After Siddhivinayak temple trust decided to shut the doors to fight coronavirus pandemic, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board authorities on Tuesday appealed to the pilgrims to postpone their visit to the Holy Cave Shrine till normalisation of the situation.
Since January 1, 2020 more than nine lakh pilgrims have already performed darshan at the cave shrine recording highest ever footfalls in the last five years during the period. An average number of over 20,000 pilgrims were currently reaching Katra base camp and gradually the footfall was expected to increase in the coming days with exam season getting over.
In Katra, Spokesman of the Shrine board issued a written statement after Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Ramesh Kumar reviewed all aspects related to yatra and the safety of pilgrims.
“Considering the spread of Coronovirus, the CEO appealed pilgrims to postpone their visit to the Holy Cave Shrine till normalisation of the situation”, the statement said.
The Shrine Board has taken several other preventive measures for ensuring safety of the pilgrims. These include curtailing of Atka Aarti slots, closing of Garbhjoon Cave at Adhkuwari, restricting yatra in groups etc.
Shrine Board spokesman, however, maintained, all the pilgrims visiting the Holy Cave Shrine have to fill Self Reporting Form available at Yatra Registration Counters, Accommodations, Helipad Terminal of Shrine. Further, they are required to pass through mandatory Thermal Image Scanning at Katra before proceeding for yatra. Large number
For last two days, large number of pilgrims enroute Katra were facing hardships due to closure of restaurants, eating joints, food stalls, dhabas across Jammu region.
On its part Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine board authorities had earlier issued an advisory to the NRIs/ foreigners and other visitors not to visit the Shrine for 28 days after landing in India as a precautionary measure against Coronavirus.
The domestic visitors having symptoms like cough, heavy fever and breathing problems also advised to reschedule or postpone their visit to the Holy Shrine, the advisory said. “The advisories are also being issued on the multipurpose audio system throughout the track from Katra to Bhawan for creating awareness about the coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the Government Tuesday extended J&K Epidemic Disease (COVID-19) Regulations, 2020 to both the divisions of Jammu and Kashmir to step up efforts to tackle the contagious coronavirus disease.
The Regulations were extended to whole of J&K under the orders of Lieutenant Governor Girish Chandra Murmu which define powers, duties and responsibilities to the surveillance personnel, duties and responsibilities of Medical Officers and Practitioners, Enforcement & Offences.
In Jammu and Kashmir, a total number of 2615 travelers and persons in contact with suspected cases have been enlisted for surveillance and, so far, three cases have tested positive in Jammu and Kashmir. 2060 persons have been kept under home quarantine and 28 are in hospital quarantine. Persons who are under home surveillance stand at 297 while as 230 persons have completed their 28-day surveillance period. “113 samples have been sent for testing, of which 105 tested as negative and three cases have tested positive, so far, while as reports of five cases are awaited till March 17, 2020”, Government spokesman said.