3,187 Manimahesh pilgrims rescued by Doda administration

As many as 3,187 Manimahesh pilgrims stranded on the Bhaderwah–Chamba road have been rescued by the Doda district administration, providing them a safe passage through Jammu and Kashmir.

The administration till 6 pm yesterday ensured the safe return of a total number of 217 stranded vehicles carrying these pilgrims, an official said on Monday.

Advertisement

The yatra to Manimahesh in the Chamba district of Himachal Pradesh has been cancelled due to incessant rains and a severe weather alert. At least 11 pilgrims from different states have died in weather-related incidents.
Manimahesh is one of the chief pilgrimage spots in Himachal Pradesh. The sacred lake is situated at an altitude of 13,000 feet.

The roads leading to Manimahesh have been badly damaged at several places, and the pilgrims were unable to go beyond the district town of Chamba. The road between Bhaderwah in the Doda district of J&K and Chamba was also badly damaged by the rains.

Pilgrims appreciated the efforts of Doda Deputy Commissioner Doda Harvinder Singh and Bhaderwah Additional Deputy Commissioner Sunil Bhutyal, who deployed JCB machines to clear the roads and ensure the safe return of the stranded pilgrims.

These officers visited near the Himachal Pradesh boundary to assess the safe passage for Manimahesh Yatris stranded en route from Bhaderwah to Chamba due to bad weather conditions. Thereafter, they deployed men and machinery to clear the roads to enable the stranded pilgrims to return.