Landslide on Shri Vaishno Devi track claims five lives, injures 14 amidst heavy rains, yatra suspended

Katra, August 26: A devastating landslide triggered by continue incessant rainfall struck the sacred Mata Vaishno Devi track near the Adhkuwari area on Monday, resulting in the tragic death of at least five pilgrims and leaving 14 others injured.

The incident has cast a pall of gloom over the ongoing pilgrimage and prompted an immediate suspension of the yatra. The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) officially confirmed the casualty figures, stating, “An unfortunate incident of landslide at Adhkwari 5 people have lost their lives and 14 others have been injured.”

The calamity occurred as pilgrims were navigating the steep and winding track leading to the holy cave shrine, a journey undertaken by millions of devotees annually.

The region has been subjected to relentless downpours, saturating the hillsides and loosening the soil, which ultimately led to the massive slide of rocks and debris. The landslide buried several individuals under its force, leading to immediate chaos and panic on the busy path. Upon receiving alerts, emergency response teams, including police, paramilitary forces, and shrine board personnel, launched a swift and massive rescue operation.

Despite challenging weather conditions and the difficult terrain, rescue teams worked tirelessly to evacuate stranded pilgrims from the area and retrieve those trapped under the rubble.The injured were promptly rushed to the nearby Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Narayana Superspeciality Hospital for urgent medical treatment. Authorities have stated that rescue operations are still underway to ensure no one else is trapped in the vicinity.

In the wake of the tragedy and the ongoing adverse weather, the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has announced the immediate suspension of the pilgrimage from Katra until further notice.