Vaishno Devi sees record footfall for one day, as 51,000 pilgrims visit shrine

Jammu: Over 51,000 pilgrims visited the cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi in the Katra town of Reasi district on Sunday, a record foot fall on a single day. [caption id=“attachment_2832082” align=“alignleft” width=“380”] Pilgrims going to Vaishno Devi. Reuters[/caption] As per official figures, 51,191 pilgrims left Katra- the base camp of the shrine, to pay their obeisance. “This is the highest number of pilgrims to have left for the holy cave shrine in a single day from the time we started keeping record of the pilgrims,” an official of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) said. He said that on a normal day the number of pilgrims ranges from 25,000 to 30,000 and, on the days of festivals, it goes up to around 40,000. He said that despite the huge rush, pilgrimage continued normally. Elaborate security arrangements have been put in place in and around the town so as to ensure the safety of the pilgrims visiting the cave shrine.