SARS checks at Vaishno Devi

Devotees to the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine will be screened for SARS from today, health authorities in Jammu and Kashmir said.

Health authorities have instructed doctors and paramedics in all three dispensaries on the way Vaishno Devi to screen pilgrims complaining even of minor respiratory ailments.

Even people with normal cough would be screened, said health officials.

With more than two lakh pilgrims coming to the shrine every month, state authorities saw a potential threat in them and have decided to enforce SARS checks.