jj correspondent
Jammu, Apr 11: Union Minister, Nitin Gadkari and Minister of State General, V K Singh are among 3 lakh devotees from all over the country who visited the cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi in the ten days of the current month.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), on Tuesday, Union ministers Nitin Gadkari, Jitendra Singh and V K Singh along with Lt Governor Manoj Sinha paid obeisance at the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district of Jammu division.
The Union Road Transport and Highways Minister, Nitin Gadkari was on a two-day tour of J&K to review various highway projects. After inspecting and inaugurating several projects on Jammu-Srinagar national highway, Gadkari accompanied by the two other union ministers visited the Cave Shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi and offered prayers.
Moreover, Shrine Board officials said that with examination season over, the rush of devotees has come, adding, “In the weekend, 46,219 (Friday), 47,388 (Saturday) and 37,500 (till 3 PM on Sunday) devotees offered prayers at the sanctum sanctorum.”
“Due to heavy rush, the yatra registration center was also closed briefly following which, thousands of pilgrims remained halted at Katra base camp,” an official said, adding that the devotees were seen standing in long queues to get RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) cards at Yatra Registration Centers set up by the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board in Katra.
The Shrine Board Administration has opened all Yatra Registration Centers for the convenience of the devotees. Meanwhile, tight security arrangements are also in place 24×7 at Katra base camp and en route to Bhawan for the safety of the devotees—(KNO)
