HBI Staff | Hyderabad 
In a decisive step to maintain the spiritual sanctity of the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage, authorities have banned the sale, possession, and consumption of liquor and non-vegetarian food in Katra, the base camp for pilgrims. The prohibition, announced by Katra Subdivisional Magistrate Piyush Dhotra on Wednesday, also covers the 12-kilometer trek to the shrine in the Trikuta hills and nearby areas.
Enforced under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, the ban extends to roads like Katra-Jammu and Katra-Reasi, as well as villages including Chamba and Serli, ensuring a spiritual environment for devotees.
