Vaishno Devi, A massive landslide near the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi, Jammu and Kashmir, triggered by torrential monsoon rain, has led authorities to suspend the pilgrimage and launch multi-agency rescue operations, with over 30 fatalities and dozens injured reported by officials and media as of Wednesday night. The incident occurred around the Adhkuwari/Ardhkuwari section on the trek from Katra, prompting route closures, suspension of helicopter and battery car services, and advisories amid an IMD red alert for parts of Jammu region.
What happened on Vaishno Devi?
- Officials said the mountainside gave way around 3 pm on Tuesday near the mid-point of the 12-km Katra–Bhawan trek, sending rocks and debris onto the path and catching pilgrims off guard, leading to mass casualties and injuries on a crowded route segment.
- The Himkoti (new) route was shut earlier in the day due to weather; the old route continued until about 1:30 pm before a complete suspension was enforced amid relentless rain and safety risks, according to local reports and authorities on site.
- Eyewitness accounts describe chaotic scenes, with ambulances shuttling continuously and groups separated in the rush to evacuate via the Tarakote track, as rain and poor visibility complicated movement and communication on the hill.
Current status and response
- The Vaishno Devi yatra remains suspended until further orders; security forces, NDRF, SDRF, police, and Shrine Board teams are engaged in debris clearance, medical evacuation, and search for missing persons despite intermittent connectivity and harsh conditions.
- Authorities reported widespread rain-related disruptions across J&K, including flooded low-lying areas, damaged bridges, suspended rail and highway links like stretches on the Jammu–Srinagar axis, and partial collapse of infrastructure in Jammu city and Ramban sector.youtube
- A red alert for very heavy rainfall was issued for Jammu on Wednesday, with officials warning of critical 24 hours ahead and advising avoidance of landslide-prone stretches and water bodies until conditions stabilize.
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Key numbers
- Reported fatalities: 30–34 near the Vaishno Devi route as per multiple official and media tallies, with 20–23 injured; numbers may be updated as rescue progresses and identifications are completed.
- Broader J&K toll and impact: at least 41 deaths across the region from floods, cloudbursts, and landslides, with evacuations exceeding 5,000 people in flood-hit belts, according to officials quoted on Wednesday.
Affected routes and services
- Trek routes: Himkoti route closed; old route halted; Tarakote track used for downward evacuation under supervision as weather permits, per on-ground accounts and authorities.
- Transport: Battery car and helicopter services suspended; Jammu–Srinagar Highway closures reported at multiple landslide points including Ramban sector; select bridges in Jammu reported damaged or partially collapsed under spate.youtube.
Safety advisory and helplines
- Pilgrims and tourists are advised to defer travel to Katra and surrounding hill routes until official resumption; adhere to Shrine Board and district administration updates, and avoid trekking during or immediately after heavy rainfall events on this corridor.
- Follow local police and administration channels for district-specific helplines and shelter locations; connectivity disruptions have been reported, so on-ground information points and control rooms are coordinating family tracing and medical referrals.
Eyewitness accounts
- “The landslides started happening at the Garbh Joon Gufa temple (Ardhkuwari)… ambulances were running to and fro… returnees are coming down via Tarakote marg,” said a devotee from Banaras, describing the rapid escalation and evacuation path in Katra.
- “I don’t know where the people are who were with me… I assume they might be injured,” said another devotee from Amritsar, highlighting the challenge of tracing companions amid network disruptions and crowd dispersal.
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Weather outlook
- While some river levels showed brief signs of receding on Wednesday, forecasts indicate intermittent showers continuing, with potential renewed heavy spells in Jammu region through August 30–September 1, warranting continued caution on hill routes and river crossings.
- IMD’s red alert over Jammu coincided with cloudburst-linked flooding, prompting pre-emptive closures and focused rescue readiness across Reasi, Udhampur, Ramban, Doda, Kathua, and Kishtwar districts.
FAQs
- Is Vaishno Devi yatra open? No, the pilgrimage is suspended on all routes until further orders; only controlled evacuations are occurring as weather and safety allow.
- Which route was hit? The incident zone lies near Adhkuwari/Inderprastha Bhojnalaya on the Katra–Bhawan trek, roughly mid-way, a section used by both the old and Himkoti-linked approaches.
- Are helicopters/battery cars running? No, both services are suspended pending safety clearance and route restoration.
- What should pilgrims do? Defer travel, monitor official advisories, and register missing persons with local control rooms; expect phased restoration after geotechnical assessment and debris clearance.
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