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New Delhi: Over 30 pilgrims died and many were injured after a devastating landslide struck them on the route to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hill in Reasi's Katra on Tuesday. The landslide struck around 3 pm at a spot midway along the 12-km trek to the hilltop temple. Rescue operations are being carried out near the Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkwari where the landslide hit. Rescuers are pulling out those buried under the debris. The yatra has been suspended.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed profound grief over the death of pilgrims due to the landslide. Taking to X, he said: "The loss of lives due to a landslide on the route to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple is saddening. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. The administration is assisting all those affected. My prayers for everyone's safety and well-being."
Rain fury has taken a huge toll in Jammu and Kashmir. At least four more people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Doda. An orange alert has been sounded in 13 districts, including Srinagar.
Several rivers, including the Tawi and Chenab, were flowing menacingly at or hovering near the danger level. The Tawi river in the Udhampur district has crossed the 20-feet danger mark. Water levels in the Taranah, Ujh, Maggar Khad, Sahar Khad, Ravi, and their tributaries in Kathua are simultaneously rising and approaching the danger mark, officials said.
Rain-induced landslides and mudslides has resulted in the closure of several roads, including the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, while a fourth bridge collapsed near Bhagwati Nagar. Many vehicles got stuck in the damaged portion of the bridge and were pulled out after massive effort.
Over 3,500 residents were evacuated by the Jammu District Administration to safety after torrential rains caused flash floods and waterlogging across the city. A number of teams from the administration, police, NDRF, SDRF, the Army, and local volunteers have undertaken evacuation and relief operations in the worst-affected areas.
Communication networks, including telecom services, have broken down across vast areas of Jammu and Kashmir. Key infrastructure and essential services are being restored. As a precautionary measure, restrictions on movement of people during the night have been imposed.
An orange alert has been issued by the India Meteorological Department for 13 districts of the Union Territory, including Srinagar, Anantnag, Baramulla, Pulwama, Kupwara, Budgam, Bandipora, Ganderbal, Kulgam, and Shopian.
Earlier on Tuesday, red alert was issued in Rajouri, Poonch, Kulgam, Mirpur, Jammu, Samba, Reasi, Kathua, Udhampur, Ramban, Doda and Kishtwar.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah conducted a meeting to review the step being taken for flood mitigation at Jammu. He issued directions to the officials to keep vigil and high alert.
All government and private schools in the Jammu division have been closed. All examinations for Classes 10 and 11 scheduled for Wednesday have been cancelled by the Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education. All the Kashmir University (KU) examinations scheduled to be held on August 27 also stand postponed. Fresh dates for the postponed examinations will be notified later.
At least 22 trains in Jammu have been cancelled and 23 short-terminated. Train services on the down line between Pathankot Cantonment and Kandrori have been suspended due to soil erosion and flash floods in the Chakki River. Train services have also been suspended between Jammu Tawi and Katra, and between Jammu Tawi and Bari Brahman.
