Strike at Katra hits Vaishno Devi pilgrims hard

JAMMU: A 72-hour strike by ponywallas, shopkeepers, and proprietors of other businesses at Katra along the route to the Vaishno Devi shrine entered the second day on Saturday, putting pilgrims visiting the holy shrine on Trikuta hills to great inconvenience and hardship.

Officials said shops and businesses remained open in Katra town, the base camp, but those along the trek route to the Vaishno Devi shrine closed their establishments in response to the bandh call.

Businesses went on strike on Friday after the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board decided to move forward with a passenger ropeway project between Tarakote Marg to Sanji Chhat along the 12km route to the shrine.

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