news details |
|
|
| Pilgrims, take note! Vaishno Devi yatra closed from today | | Inter-State bus services suspended till March 31st | |  Early Times Report
JAMMU, Mar 18: A day after banning the entry of foreign tourists to the Valley, the Jammu and Kashmir administration Wednesday suspended the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage and all inter-state bus services to the Union Territory in a bid to stem the spread of coronavirus.
This was stated by Principal Secretary Planning, Development and Monitoring, Rohit Kansal, who is also the goverment Spokesperson at a press conference here today. Financial Commissioner Health & Medical Education, Atal Dulloo and Director Information & PR, Dr. Syed Sehrish Asgar were also present during the occasion.
Urging people to contribute in tackling the situation, Rohit Kansal appealed to general public that there is no cause of panic and the cooperation of citizens is must in combating the situation successfully.
Giving a detailed break up about the Corona virus suspected cases in UT of J&K till date, Rohit Kansal informed that 2802 persons have been enlisted for observation among which 2128 have been kept in home quarantine, 28 in hospital quarantine whileas 346 are under home surveillance.
Kansal added that 300 persons have completed their 28 day surveillance period. 145 samples of suspected cases have been sent for testing so far out of which 118 have been reported negative, 03 are positive while as report of 24 is still awaited.
Spelling out measures being taken up to control and prevent spread of this Virus, Rohit Kansal informed that the yatra to Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine has been suspended till March 31,2020. He also appealed all religious leaders to suspend all kinds of religious gatherings till March 31,2020.
Appealing foreign visitors not to visit J&K, Kansal said that all the foreign tourists or visitors arriving in J&K will be quarantined besides 100% quarantine will also be enforced on all the travellers coming from Union Territory of Ladakh. Kansal added that the government has also decided to operationalise 100% checking of passengers at Banihal Railway station while as all inter-state buses coming to or going from J&K have been suspended till March 31,2020.
Urging people not to pay heed to rumors, Rohit Kansal said that the government advises people not to panic and to rely on the information released by the government in this regard. He reiterated that citizens must take basic precautions such as personal hygiene, hand washing, coughing and sneezing etiquettes and also report any symptoms (fever, difficult breathing and cough) to the medical authorities immediately in order to contain the virus.
Thousands of pilgrims from across the country and abroad visit the shrine atop Trikuta hills in Reasi district daily to offer their prayers.
“In view of the advisories issued by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the J&K Government considering the spread of coronavirus, Yatra to the holy Cave Shrine has been closed from today. This has been done to ensure the safety of pilgrims and the people at large. The pilgrims are requested not to plan their visit to the shrine till the situation normalises completely,” a spokesman for the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board said. He, however, said that the ‘pooja’, ‘aarti’ and other rituals would be held at the Cave Shrine as usual.
The management of the Chandi Mata temple at Chinote in Bhaderwah area of Doda district also announced the closure of the temple for devotees in view of the emerging situation due to coronavirus. “The people in general and the devotees are appealed to cooperate with the management which has also decided not to organise any function in the premises of the temple during the forthcoming ‘navratras’ starting from March 25,” a spokesman for the temple said. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
| |
| |
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
