Landslide Near Vaishno Devi Shrine Claims 30 Lives; J&K Reels Under Floods and Cloudbursts

Jammu: A wave of natural disasters has struck Jammu and Kashmir, with a deadly landslide on the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine route in Reasi district killing 30 pilgrims and injuring 14 others, even as floods and cloudbursts wreak havoc across the region.

The landslide occurred on Tuesday evening near Adhkwari, forcing authorities to suspend the Vaishno Devi Yatra. Rescue teams were rushed to the spot to evacuate stranded devotees. Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Lt Governor Manoj Sinha expressed shock over the tragedy, assuring all possible assistance to those affected.

Meanwhile, twin cloudbursts in the Warwan Valley of Kishtwar district unleashed flash floods that washed away at least 10 houses, a bridge, and large tracts of farmland. Around 60 homes were inundated, forcing residents to seek shelter on nearby hilltops. With communication services badly hit, locals managed to send out urgent pleas for rescue through weak mobile signals.

Rising river levels have added to the crisis. The Tawi at Udhampur was recorded at 36.1 feet—13 feet above the evacuation mark—while the Chenab at Akhnoor flowed one foot above danger level. In Srinagar, the Jhelum breached the red mark at Ram Munshibagh, leading authorities to declare a flood in the Valley. Low-lying areas of Jammu city, including the railway station, have been submerged.

Transport and communication have been severely disrupted. The Srinagar–Jammu and Srinagar–Leh highways, along with several mountain passes, remain blocked due to landslides and snowfall. Landline and fibre services of BSNL collapsed, while private operators cited multiple fibre cuts in Jammu, Srinagar, and Shimla.

Schools, colleges, and government offices not involved in flood relief have been ordered shut in Jammu district, while educational institutions in Anantnag, Pulwama, Kulgam, Shopian, Budgam, and Srinagar also remain closed.

Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah flagged the communication blackout, writing on X that it reminded him of the “terrible days of 2014 and 2019” when connectivity was almost non-existent.

As rescue and relief operations continue, officials warn that worsening weather and rising waters could further aggravate the situation in the coming days.