Jammu and Kashmir Rains: in Vaishno Devi Route Landslide

Relentless and heavy rainfall has wreaked havoc across the Jammu division of Jammu and Kashmir, with a tragic landslide on the route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine claiming the lives of at least six pilgrims and injuring 14 others. The disaster has pushed the total death toll from rain-related incidents in the region to 10, as flash floods, cloudbursts, and landslides continue to cause widespread disruption.

The landslide on the Vaishno Devi route occurred near Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkwari, a point roughly halfway along the 12-km trek to the revered shrine. Officials reported that the sudden collapse of the mountainside, triggered by the continuous downpour, sent a hail of rocks, boulders, and debris hurtling down, catching pilgrims by surprise. Rescue operations, involving the Indian Army and civil authorities, were immediately launched to assist the trapped and injured. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has suspended the pilgrimage until further notice as a precautionary measure, with all train services from Katra also cancelled.

In addition to the tragedy at Vaishno Devi, the intense weather has claimed four other lives in separate incidents across the region. Officials confirmed that four people died in Doda district due to house collapses and being swept away by flash floods. The rising water levels in rivers and streams have created a perilous situation, with major water bodies like the Tawi and Chenab nearing or crossing their danger marks.

The Meteorological Department had issued a “red alert” for seven districts in the Jammu region, warning of extremely heavy rainfall, cloudbursts, and landslides. These warnings proved to be tragically accurate, as the downpour has led to the closure of key arterial routes, including the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, which has been blocked by landslides and shooting stones at multiple locations. A bridge over the Sahar Khad river in Kathua also collapsed, further disrupting traffic on the Jammu-Pathankot highway

The ongoing weather crisis has caused severe disruption to normal life. Schools have been ordered to remain closed, and exams have been postponed. The Indian Army has mobilized multiple rescue columns and helicopters for Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief (HADR) operations, evacuating stranded civilians and providing aid to those displaced by the floods.

Authorities have urged the public to exercise extreme caution, advising people to stay away from water bodies, river embankments, and landslide-prone areas. The continuous monitoring of the situation by local administration and disaster response teams is ongoing as the region braces for more rainfall in the coming days. This latest calamity comes just a few days after a previous cloudburst in Kishtwar district resulted in significant loss of life, underscoring the extreme vulnerability of the region to natural disasters during the monsoon season.