NIRM to study hilly track between Katra to Vaishni Devi

The National Institute of Rock Mechanics (NIRM),Banglore,will undertake a strudy of the hilly track between Katra town to Vaishni Devi shrine and advise a pragmatic action plan to deal with the problem of landslides and shooting stones which has been causing injuries to pilgrims at some places.

In this connection,a team of technical experts from the NIRM,Union Ministry of Mines,reached Katra last evening,said Chief Executive Officer of the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board,R K Goel,here today. It will carry out field traverse mapping along the existing track to identify the critical stretches prone to landslides and shooting stones on the tracks from Katra to the cave shrine till June 20. Later,the team will undertake the detailed engineering geological investigations of the area and suggest suitable measures for mitigation of the landslides and shooting stones on the track by way of strengthening the hilly slopes and other technical interventions,he pointed out.

This follows instructions from the State Governor and Chairman of the Vaishno Devi Shrine Board N. N. Vohra who,in the course of a recent visit to the shrine stressed the urgent need for scientific treatment of the vulnerable portions of the track. Over 80 lakh pilgrims from all over the country and even abroad visit the holy shrine every year.