Tragedy Strikes Vaishno Devi Pilgrimage Route as Record Rainfall Claims Over 40 Live;

At least 41 people, most of them Vaishno Devi pilgrims, lost their lives in Jammu's Reasi and Doda districts between Tuesday and Wednesday as the region experienced its heaviest rainfall in over a century. The torrential rains triggered deadly cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides, leaving behind a trail of destruction and grief. Cloudburst Near Shrine Kills 34 Pilgrims The worst tragedy occurred near Adhkuwari, along the path to the revered Vaishno Devi shrine. A sudden cloudburst on Tuesday afternoon swept away devotees,devotees, killing 34 people. Most of the victims were pilgrims from states like Punjab, Delhi, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, and Uttar Pradesh. Their bodies were later brought to the mortuary at Government Medical College Hospital in Jammu. Lt Governor Expresses Grief, Announces Aid Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, who also heads the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, visited Katra to meet the injured. "This was a heart-wrenching natural calamity in which we lost precious lives," he said. The government has announced an ex gratia of ₹9 lakh to the families of the deceased. Thirteen injured pilgrims are being treated at a hospital in Katra. Questions Raised Over Safety Measures Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah raised serious concerns about the administration’s handling of the situation. “Why were the pilgrims not stopped when there was already a weather warning in place? Why weren't they moved to safer locations?” he asked. He emphasized the need for accountability, suggesting that the disaster might have been mitigated if preventive steps had been taken. Pilgrimage Suspended After Landslides The pilgrimage was officially suspended after a landslide around 3 PM on Tuesday buried four pilgrims who had taken shelter under an iron shed. The landslide hit midway along the 12-kilometer trek from Katra to the shrine. While the Himkoti route had already been closed in the morning due to weather concerns, the traditional old route remained open until 1:30 PM before authorities shut it down entirely. Record-Breaking Rainfall Jammu recorded an unprecedented 380 mm of rainfall in a single day on Tuesday—the highest since the establishment of the region's weather observatory in 1910. The previous record was 270.4 mm, set on September 25, 1988. In response, the Jammu and Kashmir School Education Department ordered the closure of schools across the Union Territory, while board exams for Classes 11 and 12 were postponed. Infrastructure Damage and Communication Breakdown The heavy rains damaged vital infrastructure, including a bridge over the Tawi River in Jammu, which had already been weakened during the 2014 floods. Former CM Omar Abdullah called for a detailed technical evaluation of the bridge. Telecommunication networks, including BSNL, Jio, and Airtel, suffered major disruptions. Authorities directed telecom companies to urgently restore connectivity. Traffic on key highways—Jammu-Pathankot, Jammu-Srinagar, and Batote-Doda-Kishtwar—was suspended due to landslides and flooding. Mass Evacuations Amid Flood-Like Conditions The incessant rains caused flood-like conditions in several parts of Jammu, with low-lying areas submerged under waist-deep water. Rescue teams from the NDRF, SDRF, police, and Army used boats to evacuate over 5,000 residents to safety. In a daring rescue, Indian Army Aviation airlifted 22 stranded CRPF personnel and three civilians near Madhopur Headworks on Tuesday. High Alert in Kashmir Valley In Srinagar, the Jhelum River was flowing dangerously close to the danger mark, reviving memories of the devastating 2014 floods. Authorities in the Valley are on high alert, with flood control teams closely monitoring water levels. “All Deputy Commissioners in South and Central Kashmir are actively monitoring the ground situation,” said Divisional Commissioner Anshul Garg. Schools and colleges in the Valley will remain closed on Thursday. Communication services have been severely affected due to damage to optical fibre cables caused by landslides along the national highway.

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