Heavy snowfall at Vaishno Devi shrine

The cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi on Trikuta Hills in Reasi district received heavy snowfall, even as thousands of pilgrims reached there to offer prayers on the first day of the new year on Wednesday.

The cave shrine of Mata Vaishno Devi on Trikuta Hills in Reasi district received heavy snowfall, even as thousands of pilgrims reached there to offer prayers on the first day of the new year on Wednesday.

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There was heavy snowfall at the cave shrine and entire Trikuta Hills during the night, officials of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board (SMVSB) said on Wednesday. Bhawan received nearly one ft snowfall, while Bharov Ghati received more than one ft snowfall, they said.

In spite of the cold wave conditions and snowfall, thousands of pilgrims were making a beeline for the cave shrine and en route to pay obeisance at the shrine.

More than 45,000 pilgrims had arrived in Katra, the base camp of the shrine, in the last two days to offer prayers on the first day of the year, the officials said.

They, however, maintained that the yatra was going on smoothly.