Amid a rise in COVID cases in Jammu Kashmir, over 14,000 devotees have arrived in Katra to take part in the yatra to Vaishno Devi Shrine during the Navratri festival out of which 48 devotees have tested positive for Coronavirus.
The district administration in Reasi and Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has ordered strict implementation of the COVID protocols and also fixed the limit at 25,000 pilgrims per day.
The Yatra had been suspended last year on March 16 after the outbreak of the pandemic only to resume after a gap of more than five months.
The Mata Vaishno Devi shrine board had fixed a cap of 2,000 pilgrims per day.
As many as 48 pilgrims from outside JK were found to be positive on day 1 of the festival till 5 pm.