Vaishnodevi hills experience snowfall, old cave-route reopened

There was fresh snowfall in Trikuta hills - abode of the Shrine, during the night following which cold conditions aggravated further, Shrine Board Officials said today.

A thick blanket of snow has come up around the Shrine, they said, adding that due to the cold conditions pilgrim inflow to the Shrine has dipped to less than 10,000 per day.

Keeping in view the fall in the number of pilgrims visiting the Shrine, Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Devi Shrine Board (SMVSB) has thrown open the ancient cave route for darshan of three idols of Mata Vaishnodevi.

"The old cave route will remain open till the flow of the pilgrims remains low. When there would be more pilgrims visiting the Shrine, we will shift to the main route," a senior official of SMVSB said.

Other areas which experienced snowfall are health resort Patnitop in Ramban district and Nathatop