At least 30 people were killed and 14 others were injured after a landslide hit the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine route in J&K’s Reasi district, even as the water level in all the rivers of Jammu division and the Jhelum River in Kashmir flowed above the flood level on Wednesday.A major tragedy struck on the pilgrimage route to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district on Tuesday when a landslide killed 30 pilgrims and injured 14 others, officials said.
Rescue teams rushed to evacuate stranded pilgrims near Adhkwari, while the Yatra has been suspended until further orders.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha have expressed shock and grief over the tragedy and have ordered all possible relief and rescue to help the affected pilgrims while expressing condolences to the bereaved families.
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said on X, “Still struggling with almost nonexistent communication. There is a trickle of data flowing on Jio mobile, but no fixed-line WiFi, no browsing, almost no apps, things like X open frustratingly slowly, and WhatsApp struggles with anything more than short text messages. Haven’t felt this disconnected since the terrible days of 2014 & 2019.”
Twin cloudbursts triggered flash floods in the Margi area of Warwan Valley in Kishtwar district, washing away at least 10 houses, over 300 kanals of crops, livestock, and a bridge.