Vaishno Devi helipad terminal in Katra hit by fire

A fire broke out at the helipad terminal in Katra, located in the Trikuta Hills of the Reasi district, which serves pilgrims traveling to the Mata Vaishno Devi Temple. The incident occurred early Sunday morning at approximately 3:15 AM.

At the time of the fire, the terminal was closed, and no casualties or injuries were reported. Fire and emergency services, working alongside terminal staff and security personnel, managed to bring the blaze under control within about 30 minutes.

The fire caused damage to a ticket counter, destroying several computers, and affected a coffee shop. Preliminary investigations suggest that a short circuit may have caused the fire. Authorities are currently assessing the total extent of the damage and reviewing safety and fire prevention measures.