Devastating fire broke out in Vaishno Devi track at Charan Paduka, over 50 shops completely gutted.

Katra, May 20 - Devastating fire suddenly broke out in Charan Paduka area on Mata Vaishno Devi track about 2.5 kms from Katra during intervening night of May 19 and 20 in which over 50 shops and a residential house comprising of 7 rooms were completely gutted.

The Additional Chief Executive Officer, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, Mr. M. K. Dwivedi, District Development Commissioner (DDC), Reasi, Mr. Sanjeev Verma along with Assistant Commissioner Revenue, Mr. Bikram Singh Jamwal, Sub Divisional Magistrate, Katra, Tehsildar Reasi and Naib Tehsildar, Katra and senior officers of police visited the spot and made on the spot assessment of the losses incurred due to devastating fire.

MLA Reasi, Mr. Baldev Sharma also visited the site of the incident.
According to Police, there has been no loss of life however, the belongings kept in the shops and residential house were turn in ashes within few hours of catching fire.

After receiving the reports of Fire, the administrative officers from Katra and Bhawan rushed to spot for carrying out rescues operation. However, since the track was meant only for walkers, no fire tender could reach the spot.
The yatra was also diverted for few hours during the rescue operation but by late afternoon the track was again opened for the yatries.

The DDC directed the Tehsildar Reasi to prepare a detailed report with assessment of losses incurred due to the fire to the shop and residential house owners and send to his office for further course of action. He asked him to videograph the area where the shops were existing and were completely destroyed in the fire incident. He also ordered to construct shelter for the people who have lost their residential houses at the earliest.

Mr. Verma also met with owner of shops and residential houses and assured for their early redresses from the administration side as well as loans on lower rates from the banks for revival of their units.

Baba Chamliyal Mela (Festival) on June 25
State Government reviews Mela arrangements

Jammu, May 20 -To upkeep the traditional religious vehemence and brotherhood exhibited tremendously during Baba Chamliyal melaMinister for Industries and Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Mr. Surjit Singh Slathia, the administration is all geared up to ensure provision of adequate basic amenities to devotees who throng the venue irrespective of borders, caste, religion to seek blessings of the great saint.

Minister for Industries and Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Mr. Surjit Singh Slathia alongwith Divisional Commissioner, Jammu, Dr. Pawan Kotwal today visited the revered shrine of Baba Chamliyal to review the arrangements made by various departments for the smooth conduct of mela which is being held on June 25, 2009 along the International Border in Samba district.

District Development Commissioner, Samba, Mr. Sourabh Bhagat, Commdt. BSF Mr. Vaneet Kumar, Director, Tourism, Jammu, SSP, Samba, Chief Planning Officer, Samba and other senior officers of PHE, PDD, RDD, Education, Health, R&B, Horticulture, Animal and Sheep Husbandry departments, Agriculture and Industry were present on the occasion.

Addressing the officers, Mr. Slathia asked the Power Development Department to provide uninterrupted electricity on Mela day so that the devotees do not face any inconvenience. In order to prevent traffic congestion on Swankhan-Baba Chamliyal shrine road, he directed the concerned authorities to make necessary arrangements for smooth flow of vehicular traffic. He asked the RTO, Jammu to make adequate transport arrangements by way of deploying number of buses and matadors from different routes to Baba Chamliyal. He asked the PHE authorities to provide adequate drinking water facilities in and around the shrine for the benefit of devotees. Chief Medical Officer, Samba will make all necessary arrangements for providing medical facilities during mela by way of ensuring deployment of doctors, para-medical staff and ambulance at the conspicuous place to cope with any emergent nature incident. Regarding maintenance of Swankhan-Baba Chamliyal shrine road, he directed the R&B authorities to start the repair and renovation work of the road and complete it by June 10, 2009. For the convenience of devotees, he asked the Municipal Committee and BDO, Samba authorities to make all necessary arrangements for construction of temporary toilets on the appropriate place during mela.

The management committee of the shrine projected their sufferings being faced by them during mela which include blacktopping of two and half kilometre SM Pura-Jerdah via Samdhoo road, maintenance of three rooms in Baba Chamliyal shrine, construction of two-room set Dak Banglow and construction of Women Sanitary Complex under Total Sanitation Campaign (TSC).

Responding to the demands, the Minister asked the R&B to start the black topping work of SM Pura-Jerdah via Samdhoo road and complete it within stipulated time frame. Regarding construction of two-room set Dak Banglow in Baba Chamliyal shrine, he asked the Director Tourism to prepare the estimate of said complex and submit for funding. For construction of Women Sanitary Minister for Industries and Commerce, Consumer Affairs and Public Distribution Mr. Surjit Singh Slathia Complex under Total Sanitation Campaign, he said that the funds are available and directed the BDO to immediately start the work and complete it before June 25 for the benefit of women devotees.

Interacting with the villagers, Mr. Slathia said that on the remembrance of great saint Baba Dalip Singh Manhas known as Baba Chamliyal, the Mela is organised in Baba Chamliyal shrine on June 25 every year. On this day Pakistani believers of the Baba present a holy chadder for the tomb of Baba which is received by BSF on the International Border. He said that on the day, the Indian devotees offer Shakker and Sharbat to Pakistani devotees.

Earlier, Mr. Slathia and Dr. Kotwal also paid obeisance in the shrine of Baba Chamliyal and prayed for peace and prosperity of the country. Later, the Minister distributed cheques amounting to Rs. 40,000 among two beneficiaries of low cost houses for register fishermen of district Samba namely Sham Lal and Pritam Lal by Fishry department.