The service providers of Palkis, Ponis, and Pithu in Vaishno Devi have resolved to strike and protest against the automated number system that has been instated by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board.

The workers also allege that The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has handed over the contract to a private company, which will later transpire into them losing their employment.

The Service providers have argued the relevance of the number system and asked the shrine board why it has been instated, while also remarking that the horses aren’t like cars as they do not move after standing idle for a period of time, implying at the insignificance of number system.

The protesting porters also added that the tourists do not visit the shrine every month, there is a cap on the number of months that give the porters employment, hence it is necessary for them to be able to utilize the time in which there is an influx in tourism.

The ground report was shared by News24, watch:

The number and card system works in accordance with the municipal committee as the municipal committee register and issue an identity card to the Pony owners and give out a token number.

The cards are renewed annually and new cards are issued carrying changed validity dates. Any card that exceeds the date of the date limit is automatically considered invalid and hence disqualifies its owners from offering services on the track.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board have taken cognizance of the matter and has told the press that they are actively working with the Pithu service providers to find a solution for the issue.

The Shrine board has informed the press how they are working to tackle the issue and have asked the stakeholders to contribute any suggestions. The shrine Board while talking to the press also put a light on the issue of horses crowding the tracks in the Banganga area and informed the press that they recently came up with a new pony stand near that area.

The Shrine Board also added that the number system and the prepaid system have been instated because sometimes the service providers overcharge as per their convenience, and to remove that variable, the Shrine Board has come up with a new system that helps streamline everything.

The Shrine board has also informed that they are going to suspend the card blocking penalty until all these issues with the stakeholders are resolved and everything gets back on track.

At least eight students were injured after a mini bus they were travelling in skidded off the road and fell into a gorge near Massora in Jammu and Kashmir’s Udhampur district on Saturday. The injured have been shifted to the nearby hospital.

According to the reports, the bus was en route to Udhampur from Barmeen village when it met with an accident. Soon after, the police and the rescue team were informed about the accident.

Meanwhile, a large number of people gathered at the accident spot and some of them even volunteered in the rescue operations as the incident spread panic in the area.

However, the cause of the accident is yet to be ascertained.

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A grenade blast occurred in the Ramban district of Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday morning. The explosion happened near the outer wall of the Ind Police post in the Gool area of the district.

Amid this, a letter has been found claiming it to be done by Jammu Kashmir Ghaznavi Force (JKGF). However, no casualties or injuries have been reported in the accident.

Mukesh Singh, ADGP, Jammu Zone, said that the Special Operations Group and Army teams are conducting a search operation in the area. The probe is on and a case has been registered on this matter, said an official.

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Earlier, police sources had said that a crude bomb had been thrown at the police post.

A few days back two Army officers, including a captain and junior commissioned officer (JCO) were killed in an accidental grenade blast in the Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir. Both the army officers were rushed to the nearby hospital for treatment where they succumbed to injuries.

In other news, Ayman al-Zawahiri, the leader of Al Qaeda and a key figure in the September 11 attacks, was killed in a US drone strike in Kabul, the capital of Afghanistan today. He was one of the most wanted terrorists in the world.

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