KATRA: Over 2 lakh pilgrims visited the cave shrine of MataVaishno Devi here in the first five days of Navratras to pay obeisance,officials said on Thursday.

The cave shrine witnesses a footfall of over 42,000 pilgrimsdaily since the beginning of Navratras from September 29, they said.

“Yatra has crossed the record two lakh mark today. A totalof over 2.10 lakh pilgrims have paid obeisance in the first five days ofNavratras”, CEO of Shri Mata Vaishnodevi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) Simrandeep Singhsaid.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday described thelaunch of the Delhi-Katra Vande Bharat Express as a ‘Navratri gift’ fordevotees of Mata Vaishno Devi.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah flagged off train from the NewDelhi Railway Station and said it was a ‘big gift’ for Jammu and Kashmir’sdevelopment.