Souvenir Shop Gutted in Fire on Vaishno Devi Pilgrimage Route

Souvenir Shop Gutted in Fire on Vaishno Devi Pilgrimage Route

Souvenir Shop Gutted in Fire on Vaishno Devi Pilgrimage Route

Key Highlights:

• SMVDSB’s Himkoti trek souvenir shop gutted in a fire.
• Short-circuit blamed for extensive damage, no injuries reported.
• Yatra to Vaishno Devi shrine continues without disruption.

A souvenir shop operated by the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) was destroyed in a fire incident on Tuesday along the Himkoti trek, one of the paths leading to the cave shrine atop Trikuta hills, officials reported.

The fire, which officials believe was caused by a short circuit, resulted in significant damage to the shop. Fortunately, no one was injured in the incident.

The affected shop was situated on the new Himkoti trek, a popular route for pilgrims visiting the revered Vaishno Devi shrine.

Despite the blaze, the pilgrimage, or yatra, continued without interruption as devotees proceeded along the trek undeterred by the fire-fighting operations.

Fire and emergency services personnel quickly responded to the situation and managed to bring the fire under control within an hour.

The SMVDSB, which operates several souvenir shops along the pilgrimage route, is now assessing the damage caused by the fire. The incident has raised concerns about the safety of other structures along the route, as the new Himkoti trek is frequented by thousands of devotees daily.

Officials are conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the short circuit and to implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The Shrine Board reassured pilgrims that all necessary safety protocols are in place to ensure their continued safety during the yatra.

Despite this unfortunate incident, the yatra to the Vaishno Devi shrine remains unaffected, allowing pilgrims to continue their spiritual journey without hindrance.

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Ashiq Butt

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