Overview
- A pre-dawn blaze broke out at the Katra helipad terminal used to ferry pilgrims to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine and was brought under control within about 30 minutes by terminal staff, security personnel and fire services.
- The terminal was closed when the fire started and no casualties have been reported.
- The fire destroyed ticket-counter computers and a coffee shop and caused partial structural and equipment damage that authorities are still assessing.
- Investigators are treating an electrical short circuit as the likely cause and have launched a formal probe to confirm the origin of the blaze.
- The helipad is a key transit point for pilgrims to the Trikuta Hills and officials say the damage and ongoing assessment may affect operations and prompt safety reviews for pilgrimage logistics.