KATRA, INDIA, June 19, 2001: An unprecedented rush of pilgrims to Vaishno Devi has created chaos and confusion right from Katra, base camp, to the bhavan where thousands of yatris are awaiting their turn for “darshan” in the open. Against the room capacity of 10,000 to 12,000 in hotels and private guest houses between 40,000 and 50,000 pilgrims land in this small town daily. Between 10,000 and 15,000 pilgrims reach Jammu by trains everyday and two holiday specials have been pressed into service to cope with the rush of the pilgrims. The chaos at the bhavan, too, is a matter of worry for the pilgrims as the maximum capacity for pilgrims at the bhavan is 18,000, but at present there are between 22,000 and 25,000 yatris waiting for their turn to enter into the cave.
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