Severe cold conditions claimed the lives of five pilgrims to the Vaishnodevi shrine, even as authorities shifted nearly 5,000 devotees to safer places.
SRINAGAR: As the plains of Kashmir Valley experienced the season’s first major snowfall on Sunday night, five pilgrims died due to extreme cold wave conditions at the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in Katra. One of the pilgrims, Manohar Mhatre, hails from Mumbai, while the rest are from UP.
Overnight rains and extremely windy conditions have wreaked havoc in Katra. Four Vaishno Devi pilgrims have succumbed to the cold and another died of heart attack. Another 13 have been admitted in different dispensaries at Katra. Authorities have suspended the pilgrimage and thousands of yatries are stranded en route. “The weather changed unexpectedly and pilgrims were not prepared. They were not carrying woollen clothing,” said Puneet Kumar, additional CEO, Shri Mata Vashno Devi Shrine Board.
Nearly 1900 pilgrims had registered for the yatra, but they have now been asked not to go ahead with their pilgrimage. “We have opened up hostels to lodge the stranded pilgrims. Blankets and heaters are also being given,” he said.
The valley too witnessed unexpected and belated snowfall, further dipping the temperature. Meteorological department informed that Srinagar experienced 10.3 millimeter (mm) of snowfall till noon. Jammu recorded a rainfall of 16.8 mm while Katra witnessed 85.4 mms of rain.
“Due to the rain and snow, the temperature has dipped below three degrees normal. There is also a likelihood of heavy snowfall and rainfall in the valley during the next 48 hours,” TN Jotshi, MeT department director said.
Kashmir remained cut off from the rest of the world after the Jammu-Srinagar highway was closed follwoing the snowfall. Police said around 1000 trucks are stranded on the highway. Several hundred passengers are also stuck at different points along the highway.
Divisional Commissioner Basharat Ahmad Dhar said the administration is well prepared. “We have pressed several snow clearance machines into service and have sufficient stocks to cater to the people’s needs,” he said.
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