SAHIL BHAT
AUG 29: Following the landslide in Katra that accounted for at least 34 lives, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) on Friday has refuted the reports of acting with sheer negligence during the weather alert and termed the statements as “Bogus & Hollow”.
While expressing deep pain at the unfortunate loss of lives in the calamity that hit Katra on August 26, Shrine Board stated the facts are being morphed and mutated in wrong way as per media reports.
“Some media reports have been going round about the careless directives of the Shrine Board pertaining to the yatra. The reports say the holy pilgrimage was allowed to proceed regardless of harsh weather and at the cost of pilgrim safety,” Board said.
Shrine Board added, “The weather conditions remained smooth for the yatra on Aug 26 morning until around 10:00 AM during which yatra proceeded normally and even helicopters were operating normally.”
In its defence, Shrine Board also said that additional arrangements were made to mobilize the enforcement staff and Disaster Management Task Force at vulnerable and high traffic zones. The Board kept an eye on the weather updates and immediately after forecast of moderate rains registrations were suspended.
“Maximum pilgrims were moving down the track after darshans at the Holy Cave Shrine,” Shrine Board emphasized.
“By then, thousands of devotees had completed their pilgrimage. However, several pilgrims preferred the shelter sheds en-route at designated halt points on the old track. These were the spots which have never been vulnerable to landslides in the past. The new track between Katra and Adhkwari (through Tarakote), which was susceptible to landslides had already been shut since 24th August for pilgrim safety,” Board said.
“Yatra on old track was suspended by 12:00 noon on 26th August after issuance of weather advisory. The location where this unfortunate disaster happened was near Inderprastha Bhojanalaya on the old track which was one of the safest locations on the track.
However, nature’s fury struck and on the heels of that Shrine Board’s Disaster Management Task Force in conjunction with District Administration, Reasi, J&K Police, CRPF, Army, NDRF, SDRF, and volunteers launched evacuation and relief operations on a war footing basis.
The SMVDSB reiterated that every imperative precaution pressed into action in view weather forecasts. The unfortunate cloudburst claiming several lives was not humanly foreseeable and beyond limits of anticipation.
