30 Pilgrims Die in Landslide on Vaishno Devi Route in Jammu & Kashmir. Road and Rail Contact Severed, Rescue Operations Intensified. Pilgrims Advised to Postpone Journey and Wait for Weather to Improve.
Vaishno Devi Landslide: The situation has become extremely critical due to a landslide on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route in Jammu & Kashmir. 30 people have died after debris fell from the mountain following heavy rains on the route from Katra to the temple. This accident has created chaos in the entire area. Thousands of pilgrims are stranded on the route, and rescue operations are continuously underway.
Bad Weather Poses a Major Threat
This landslide occurred in the Ardhkuwari area of Reasi district when thousands of devotees were on their pilgrimage. The administration stated that incidents of soil erosion and rockfall in the hilly areas have increased due to continuous rainfall.
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has appealed to pilgrims to postpone their journey for the time being and make plans only after the weather improves. The board has also said that rescue operations are going on at a fast pace, and every effort is being made to safely evacuate the stranded pilgrims.
Flood-like Situation in Jammu
The situation in Jammu is continuously deteriorating due to heavy rainfall. The water level of the rivers has risen above the danger mark. Rivers like Tawi, Chenab, and Ujj are in spate. In many places, water has risen onto roads and bridges.
Several bridges have been damaged on the Jammu-Pathankot Highway. Road traffic has been completely blocked due to the Devika bridge collapsing near AIIMS in Vijaypur. One lane of the Bhagwati Nagar bridge has subsided, and movement on other bridges has also been stopped as a safety measure.
Rail and Road Contact Completely Severed
Due to landslides and damaged bridges, road and rail contact of Jammu with the rest of the country has been completely severed. Train services between Katra and Jammu have been cancelled. The movement of buses and private vehicles has also been stopped. The administration had banned people from leaving their homes after 9 pm on Tuesday night in view of the possibility of heavy rains and landslides. This step was taken keeping in mind the safety of the people.
Pilgrims and Locals Stranded
Thousands of pilgrims are stranded on the route due to landslides and floods in Katra. People have been separated from their families in many places. Rescue teams are continuously engaged in taking people to safer places.
Three pilgrims were swept away after a car fell into the Chenani Nala in Jammu. Of these, two are said to be residents of Dhaulpur, Rajasthan, and one is from Agra. The army safely evacuated seven people from the nomadic Gujjar community who were trapped in the b current of the river in Samba district.
Alert from the Administration
The administration has declared a holiday in all schools and colleges in the Jammu division on August 27. The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for the next 24 hours. This means that the danger of rain and landslides has not yet passed. People have been advised to stay safe in their homes and not to go out unnecessarily. Pilgrims have been asked to wait for the situation to normalize and only then plan their journey.
