Jammu, Apr 29 (UNI) Days after the Pahalgam terror attack, the rush of Vaishno Devi pilgrims has started increasing at Katra town, the base camp of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine nestled in the Trikuta Hills of Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir.
A local resident among 26 tourists was killed in a terrorist attack in Baisaran Valley of Pahalgam on April 22.
Post attack, the yatra to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine witnessed a sudden dip that led to around 40 per cent of cancellation in the hotel bookings, tour operators said.
“After the unfortunate Pahalgam attack, the hotel bookings were cancelled as pilgrims preferred to reach their hometowns,” Rakesh Wazir, President, Katra Hotels Association here told UNI.
But, he said that the hotel booking has started revising with gradual increase in the number of pilgrims reaching Katra, he said, adding “the yatra figures have started improving.”
“We urge the pilgrims from across the country and worldwide to fearlessly visit Katra town and seek blessings of ‘Maa Bhagwati’ at the cave Shrine,” Wazir said.
He hoped that from next month, the yatra will witness a surge in view of the summer vacations, adding, “pilgrims have already started booking hotels, lodges and guest houses in advance, which is an indication to a great start of the season ahead.”
“Jammu and Kashmir is a blend of culture and picturesque destinations and apart from this, pilgrimage tourism makes this region more unique,” he stated.
To ensure pilgrim safety and facilitate smooth yatra regulation, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has instructed to operationalize the Integrated Command and Control Centre (ICCC) by the first week of May at Katra town, the base camp of Vaishno Devi Shrine.
Chief Executive Officer, (SMVDSB), Anshul Garg on April 25 chaired a meeting and assessed security and operational preparedness of the Shrine area for hassle-free pilgrimage.
Over 3.5 lakh devotees from across India and abroad visited the shrine during the Chaitra Navratra from March 30 to April 7 and more than 25 lakh pilgrims paid obeisance till mid-April at the Shrine.
Garg also posted on X that six lakh pilgrims visited Vaishno Devi Shrine in the first half of April with 35,000 plus figures registered on 12 days and the Yatra figure for 2025 in the said period crossed 25 lakh.
The CEO said that a robust security grid across all key sectors of the shrine relies on the timely activation of the ICCC as this centre will enable real-time monitoring, swift response to emergencies and effective coordination among security agencies through a network of 700 CCTV cameras. These equipment are equipped with features such as gesture recognition, face recognition, PTZ and such others as per operational requirements.
He also urged all concerned quarters to strictly follow the deadline to ensure a safe and secure yatra.
The meeting also highlighted the need for seamless communication and data exchange to prevent security breaches while strategies to verify the credentials of 'pithoo' and 'ponywallas' to prevent impersonation.
The meeting also explored deployment of additional security personnel, area domination and the use of drones and other advanced technologies to monitor the Shrine and surrounding areas.
“The geo-fencing technology to enhance security at the shrine area is also essential for optimizing resources and improving the shrine management,” said Garg.
UNI VBH PRS