Jammu (Jammu and Kashmir) [India], August 26 (ANI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Tuesday termed as “extremely tragic” the landslide near the Vaishno Devi shrine in Jammu and Kashmir’s Katra district, that killed five people and injured 10 others, and said he had spoken to Chief Minister Omar Abdullah and Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha, assuring full central assistance.
In a post on X, Shah stated that National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) teams had already been rushed to the scene soon after the incident.
“The landslide incident caused by heavy rains on the Vaishno Devi Yatra route in Jammu and Kashmir is extremely tragic. In this regard, I have spoken with the Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir, Shri Omar Abdullah ji, and the Lieutenant Governor, Shri Manoj Sinha ji. The local administration is engaged in relief and rescue operations to assist the injured, and the NDRF team is also reaching there,” he wrote.
जम्मू-कश्मीर के वैष्णो देवी यात्रा मार्ग पर भारी बारिश के कारण भूस्खलन से हुआ हादसा अत्यंत दुःखद है। इस सम्बन्ध में जम्मू-कश्मीर के मुख्यमंत्री श्री उमर अब्दुल्ला जी और उपराज्यपाल श्री मनोज सिन्हा जी से बात की। घायलों की मदद के लिए स्थानीय प्रशासन राहत और बचाव कार्य में जुटा हुआ…
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) August 26, 2025
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed condolences to the families and directed officials to provide immediate assistance to those injured in the accident.
“Deeply distressed to know that an unfortunate landslide triggered by incessant rain claimed the lives of devotees at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. My condolences to the bereaved families & I pray that the injured recover quickly. Directed officials to provide immediate assistance,” the LG Office posted on X.
Deeply distressed to know that an unfortunate landslide triggered by incessant rain claimed lives of devotees at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine. My condolences to the bereaved families & I pray that the injured recover quickly. Directed officials to provide immediate assistance.
— Office of LG J&K (@OfficeOfLGJandK) August 26, 2025
Sinha added that the officials were monitoring the situation across the Jammu division amid heavy rainfall and urged people to follow advisories.
After speaking to Amit Shah, CM Omar Abdullah also posted on X, saying, “Just spoke to the Union Home Minister@AmitShahji on the phone to brief him about the situation in J&K, especially Jammu province, where heavy & continuous rains have caused a lot of damage and disruption to normal life. Efforts are being made to restore phone/data connectivity as soon as possible.”
Just spoke to the Union Home Minister @AmitShah ji on the phone to brief him about the situation in J&K, especially Jammu province, where heavy & continuous rains have caused a lot of damage and disruption to normal life. Efforts are being made to restore phone/data connectivity…
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 26, 2025
He added, “The closure of Jammu airport stopped me & my colleagues from reaching Jammu this evening. I hope to be able to get there on the first flight tomorrow. In the mean time I’m closely monitoring the situation & in touch with the teams on the ground in the division.”
Uttarakhand Chief Minister Pushkar Singh Dhami also expressed grief, calling the incident “extremely distressing,” and prayed for the safety of those affected.
वैष्णो देवी यात्रा मार्ग (जम्मू) पर भारी बारिश के कारण भूस्खलन का समाचार अत्यंत दुःखद है।
माँ वैष्णो देवी से सभी प्रभावितों के सकुशल होने की प्रार्थना करता हूं।
— Pushkar Singh Dhami (@pushkardhami) August 26, 2025
“The news of a landslide due to heavy rainfall on the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route (Jammu) is extremely distressing. I pray to Maa Vaishno Devi for the safety of all those affected,” CM Dhami wrote in a post on X.
Three relief columns of the Army’s White Knight Corps were deployed in Katra for rescue and relief operations. One Column was assisting in saving lives in Ardhkuwari, Katra. One relief column reached the location of the landslide on the road from Katra to Thakra Kot, and one column was providing assistance south of Jaurian.
#WhiteKnightCorps | #HADR #JammuFloods
Relief Operations: 26 Aug 25#Katra
Three Relief Columns of #WhiteKnightCorps have swiftly mobilised in rescue & relief operations in and around Katra. One Column is assisting in saving lives in Ardhkuwari, Katra, One relief column…
— White Knight Corps (@Whiteknight_IA) August 26, 2025
Furthermore, efforts are underway to save lives, provide assistance to those in need, and relocate civilians to safe areas, with close coordination with civil agencies, the White Knight Corps said.
The 6th Battalion of the CRPF evacuated the injured to the Community Health Centre and assisted stranded pilgrims. The rescue operation is still ongoing, with all necessary medical and logistical support provided by the CRPF team.
Heavy rains also disrupted rail services in the region.
Eighteen trains were cancelled due to the suspension of traffic on the down line between Pathankot Cantt and Kandrori following soil erosion and flash floods in the Chakki river, officials said.
They added that train movement was also suspended between Jammu Tawi and Katra, as well as between Jammu Tawi and Bari Brahman on the down-line section. Four trains were short-terminated and short-originated.
The Meteorological Department (MET) has issued a red alert, valid for the next 2-3 hours, for several districts in Kishtwar, Doda, Ramban, Reasi, Kathua, Pathankot, Udhampur, and Ladakh, including Leh and Kargil.
In Doda district, continuous rainfall triggered flash floods and rising river levels, leaving three people dead and prompting mass evacuations.
Deputy Commissioner Doda, Harvinder Singh, confirmed the casualties and stated that the Neeru River in Bhaderwah has crossed its danger mark, submerging several low-lying areas. Families residing near rivers and streams have been relocated to safer places, with many taking shelter at the Doda Community Hall. A cloudburst was also reported in the district.
The administration has placed all departments on high alert and initiated large-scale rescue and relief operations.
Earlier, on August 17, seven people lost their lives and 11 were injured in a cloudburst in Kathua district. The cloudburst triggered by heavy rain also damaged a railway track, the national highway, and the local police station. Rescue and relief operations are underway in Kathua and Kishtwar. (ANI)
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