Jammu: As many as 61 yatris tested positive for COVID-19 at Katra railway station on their arrival here Saturday.
An official said that over 35 staff members had been deployed at Katra railway station for the sampling of the yatris.
During the Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) sampling, the official said that 61 yatris tested COVID-19 positive.
“All of them are asymptomatic and they have been sent back to their native states via road in taxis and other public transport arranged by the Reasi district administration,” the official said.
Meanwhile, the administration has enhanced the sampling of visitors and yatris on both the points including the helipad and Ban Ganga.
Yesterday, 31 persons including 30 yatris were found to be COVID-19 positive at Katra railway station. These also included a 13-year-old boy who was COVID-19 positive but his parents were COVID-19 negative.
“However, all of them were sent back to their concerned state in the taxi from Katra,” the official said.
Meanwhile, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) appealed to the visiting devotees to adherence to the COVID-Appropriate Behaviour (CAB), taking precautions to curb the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic and not let their guard down in the wake of a recent spike in COVID-19 cases.
The Chief Executive Officer of SMVD appealed to the yatris coming to the shrine to keep with them the valid and verifiable RT-PCR report of no more than 72 hours.
“Yatris have also been advised to keep masks with them and maintain social distance norms. It has already been mandatory for the yatris to wear face masks and face covers and every yatri proceeding on the yatra is being scanned through thermal scanners at the yatra entry points,” the CEO SMVDSB said in the statement. “For the awareness of the visiting yatris about various precautionary measures to be adopted given COVID-19, regular announcements are also being made on the already installed Multi-Purpose Audio System and Hi-Tech Video Walls on the track.”
He said that the SMVDSB was sanitising its premises in sync with the guidelines and protocols for ensuring the safety of the visiting yatris, staff, and the public at large.