Vaishno Devi pilgrimage sets new record, crosses 91.3 lakh mark for first time in decade

The revered Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Pilgrimage has achieved a significant milestone by attracting an astonishing 91.3 lakh pilgrims. This comes after a decade-long record, showcasing the pilgrimage's enduring popularity. Against the backdrop of an improved security situation in Jammu and Kashmir, the pilgrimage experienced a surge in attendance, supported by additional security measures aimed at ensuring a peaceful and secure journey for devotees embarking on this sacred pilgrimage.

Speaking to Republic World, officials from the Shrine Board, informed that a total of 91,31,049 pilgrims have paid their respects at the holy shrine until December 18, surpassing all Yatra records since 2013. This marks the fourth-highest number of pilgrims since the pilgrimage's inception in 1986 under the Shrine Board. The officials also asserted that they are hopeful of breaking the 2013 record, which stands at 93.2 lakhs. For the unversed, Vaishno Devi Yatra has previously crossed the one crore mark twice in 2011 and 2013 when the Yatra reached 1.01 crore and 1.04 crore pilgrims, respectively.

Top cops review security of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Katra

In the wake of New Year celebrations, the Deputy Inspector General (Udhampur-Reasi Range) conducted a high-level security review meeting with officials responsible for the security of the Holy Shrine, as well as intelligence agencies. During the meeting, officials were briefed on crowd management and security arrangements for the yatra. The Deputy Inspector General also scrutinised the security drill of the Shrine, evaluating the plans in place to ensure the smooth functioning of the yatra on a daily basis.

Specific directives were issued to on-ground officials, instructing them to collaborate on security drills with the Central Armed Police Forces assigned to the Shrine. Additionally, officials were tasked with conducting random checks on hotels and other residential accommodations to verify the character and antecedents of individuals visiting these places. This measure is aimed at preventing the entry of any suspicious elements into the area, further fortifying the security measures in preparation for the pilgrimage.

Ensure incident free New Year: Top cop to officers

Officer especially stressed upon the safety and security of huge numbers of pilgrims going to visit the shrine on 31st of December in view of new year and directed the officers and officials to work with cooperation and coordination to avoid any untoward incidents. Police has also been asked to revisit the list of OGW's of the Police Stations, monitoring of social media including Facebook, WhatsApp to curb the new pattern of radicalisation.