At least 32 people have died and 20 others were injured in a landslide near the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district, officials confirmed on Wednesday. The tragedy struck around 3:00 p.m. on Tuesday near Adhkuwari, roughly midway along the 12-kilometre trek from Katra to the hilltop shrine.
Triggered by relentless rain, the landslide sent boulders and debris tumbling down the mountain, catching pilgrims by surprise. The yatra on the Himkoti route had already been suspended earlier in the day due to heavy rainfall. However, pilgrims continued to move on the old track until 1:30 p.m., when authorities finally called off all movement citing deteriorating weather conditions.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep sorrow over the incident, offering his condolences to the bereaved families. In a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote, “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.”
Initial reports had placed the death toll at 30 with 14 injured, though official figures later confirmed 32 fatalities and 20 injuries. The incident marks the third major rain-related disaster to strike the Jammu region within just 12 days. In total, 136 people have lost their lives across Kishtwar, Kathua, and Reasi districts. Of these, 74 were pilgrims undertaking religious treks.
On 14 August, a devastating cloudburst struck Chishoti, en route to the Machail Mata temple in Kishtwar, resulting in 65 confirmed deaths and 32 individuals still unaccounted for. Merely days later, on 17 August, Kathua witnessed another cloudburst, killing seven people, including five children.
The frequency and scale of these tragedies have raised urgent questions about the preparedness and response of local authorities during extreme weather conditions, especially in sensitive pilgrimage zones.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also commented on the unfolding crisis, calling attention to communication breakdowns hampering rescue and relief efforts. Posting on X, he said, “Still struggling with almost nonexistent communication… Haven’t felt this disconnected since the terrible days of 2014 & 2019.”
Amid ongoing rainfall, rivers in the region continue to swell. Officials reported that all major rivers in Jammu, along with the Jhelum River in Kashmir, were flowing above the danger mark on Wednesday. This has heightened fears of further landslides and flash floods in the days ahead.
Authorities have appealed to both pilgrims and residents to exercise extreme caution as weather conditions remain volatile. The pilgrimage to the Vaishno Devi shrine remains suspended until further notice.
