Jammu & Kashmir: At least 32 people lost their lives and 20 others sustained injuries after relentless rains triggered a massive landslide near the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra, Jammu & Kashmir’s Reasi district on Tuesday. The tragedy occurred around 3 pm when huge boulders, stones and debris crashed down on the pilgrims midway along the 12-km trek to the temple.
Authorities immediately suspended the pilgrimage to ensure the safety of devotees. Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed grief over the incident, stating on X that the loss of lives was deeply saddening and assuring that the administration is providing all necessary assistance. He extended condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
According to officials, the situation worsened across the Union Territory as flash floods washed away 10 residential houses and a bridge in Margi village of Kishtwar district. More than a dozen paramilitary personnel were also feared trapped in Lakhanpur village of Kathua district, where rescue teams are working to shift them to safer locations. So far, over 3,500 people have been evacuated to safety in Jammu.
Vaishno Devi Landslide Causes Pilgrimage Suspension
Officials confirmed that the Vaishno Devi yatra was initially stopped on the Himkoti trek route on Tuesday morning. Though the old route was operational until 1:30 pm, authorities eventually ordered a complete suspension of the pilgrimage until further notice, citing the high risk posed by ongoing heavy rainfall.
Flash Floods and Widespread Damage Across Jammu and Kashmir
In Kashmir valley, the Jhelum river breached the flood-alert mark of 21 feet at Sangam in Anantnag, while in Srinagar it rose dangerously close to the alert level at Ram Munshi Bagh. Severe damage has been reported to bridges, roads, houses, and shops across several districts due to overflowing rivers and flash floods.
India has also issued fresh alerts to Pakistan about possible flooding in the Tawi river, which flows from Jammu into Chenab in Pakistan. Officials clarified that the alerts, issued via the Ministry of External Affairs, were sent on humanitarian grounds after excess water was released from dams.
Punjab and Himachal Pradesh Hit by Torrential Rains
Punjab has been badly affected, with flash floods reported in Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur, and Hoshiarpur. Overflowing Sutlej, Beas, Ravi rivers and rivulets have inundated villages. Relief operations are ongoing, with state agencies, the NDRF, and the Army engaged in mass evacuations. Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann ordered all schools closed from August 27 to 30 and cancelled leave for officers.
In Himachal Pradesh, 12 flash floods, two major landslides, and a cloudburst were reported since Monday evening. Nine incidents occurred in Lahaul-Spiti, two in Kullu, and one in Kangra, while Chamba witnessed a cloudburst. At least two lives were lost — one by drowning in Kangra and another due to a fall in Kinnaur.
Thousands Evacuated as Heavy Rains Continue in North India
Officials confirmed that thousands of residents from flood-prone areas in Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, and Punjab have been evacuated to relief camps. With the weather department warning of more rainfall in the coming days, authorities have intensified rescue and safety measures to prevent further loss of life and property.
Get Latest News Live on MTIMES along with Breaking News and Top Headlines, Political News and around The World.
You May Like
Trending Searches Today |
Israel Claims 75% Control of Gaza: 2,000 Terrorists Eliminated, 10,000 Targets Struck
India Successfully Test-Fires Nuclear-Capable Agni-5 Missile
Modi Independence Day GST Announcement Signals Major Two-Slab Tax Reform
OSSSC Cancels and Reschedules Preliminary Exam for RI, ICDS Supervisor, ARI, Amin & SFS Posts
Shreyas Iyer Emerges as Frontrunner to Replace Rohit Sharma as India’s ODI Captain: Sources
- WHY IPAD — Colourfully reimagined and more versatile than ever, iPad is great for the things you do every day. With an a…
- iPadOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use …
- FAST WI-FI CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast access to your files, uploads and downloads, and lets you seamlessly st…
- WHY IPAD — Colourfully reimagined and more versatile than ever, iPad is great for the things you do every day. With an a…
- iPadOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use …
- FAST WI-FI AND 5G CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast wireless connectivity to download files, play multiplay…
- WHY IPAD — Colourfully reimagined and more versatile than ever, iPad is great for the things you do every day. With an a…
- iPadOS + APPS — iPadOS makes iPad more productive, intuitive and versatile. With iPadOS, run multiple apps at once, use …
- FAST WI-FI AND 5G CELLULAR CONNECTIVITY — Wi-Fi 6 gives you fast wireless connectivity to download files, play multiplay…