ibn sultan
Jammu: The death toll in the Vaishno Devi landslide has gone up to 32, officials said on Wednesday, a day after disaster struck the route on the hilltop shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Reasi district.
At least 20 people were injured in the landslide triggered by heavy, relentless rain, the officials said.
The tragedy occurred around 3 pm on Tuesday at Adhkuwari, midway along the pilgrimage route. Rescue operations are ongoing, with several devotees still stranded.
Relentless rains pounded Jammu and Kashmir for the fourth consecutive day on Wednesday, causing flash floods and landslides that left widespread destruction in their wake. Thousands have been evacuated from low-lying areas as rivers, including the Tawi, Chenab, and Jhelum, surged past danger levels.
In Kishtwar’s remote Margi area, a flash flood swept away 10 houses and a bridge. No casualties were reported. Over a dozen paramilitary personnel remain trapped in floodwaters in Kathua’s Lakhanpur village, with evacuation efforts ongoing.
The Jammu region has seen unrelenting rainfall over the past 24 hours, pushing rivers like the Tawi, Chenab, Ujh, Ravi, and Basanter several feet above danger levels.
In the Kashmir Valley, the Jhelum River breached the 21-foot flood-alert mark at Sangam (Anantnag) and was nearing the alert level at Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar.
Authorities report extensive damage to public infrastructure, including bridges, homes, and commercial buildings, as water bodies overflow and flash floods continue to surge.
Meanwhile, an IAF C-130 transport aircraft carrying relief and rescue material reached Jammu to provide aid to people affected by the landslide.
The C130 transport aircraft carrying NDRF load reached Jammu from the Hindan Air Force station in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad.
Besides, helicopter assets such as Chinook, and Mi-17 V5 are on “active standby” at nearby bases in Jammu, Udhampur, Srinagar and Pathankot, the source said.
