JAMMU, INDIA, October 9, 2005: HPI note: We have seen no specific reports of damage to Hindu temples as a result of the massive earthquake of October 8. One report mentions that temples and mosques were damaged, but gives no details.
No damage has been caused to Vaishnodevi Shrine due to the massive earthquake that wreaked havoc in Jammu and Kashmir yesterday and the yatra is continuing uninterrupted, officials said here today. The shrine, which is thronged by nearly 40,000 devotees daily during the ongoing Navaratri festival, was “untouched” by the quake, the Additional Chief Executive Officer (ACEO) of Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board, Puneet Kumar, said. There were no casualties either in the base camp of Katra or along the 13-km hilly track leading to the cave shrine located in Trikuta mountains, he said. “The cave shrine and over hundred odd structures, hotels and pilgrims survived the nature’s fury,” he said adding the pilgrimage is continuing smoothly and uninterrupted. Over 150,000 pilgrims have visited cave shrine during navratra, Kumar said.