Jammu & Kashmir, India – At least 32 people were killed and 20 others injured after heavy rains triggered a massive landslide near the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra in Jammu & Kashmir’s Reasi district on Tuesday, officials and sources confirmed on Wednesday.
The tragedy struck around 3 p.m. on Tuesday when the mountainside gave way, sending huge stones, boulders and debris crashing down on pilgrims midway along the 12-km trek from Katra to the hilltop shrine. Rescue teams said the impact was so severe that several devotees were buried instantly under the rubble.
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The yatra (pilgrimage) to the shrine was immediately suspended. Initially, the Himkoti trek route had been closed due to rains on Tuesday morning, but the old route remained open until 1:30 p.m., when authorities suspended it indefinitely following the disaster.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences on social media, saying: “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.”
Rescue and relief operations are being carried out by the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), local police and army personnel. Helicopters have been pressed into service to evacuate the injured to hospitals in Jammu and Udhampur. Officials warned that more people may still be trapped under the debris.
Meanwhile, incessant heavy rainfall across Jammu & Kashmir and several other northern states, including Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, has triggered flash floods, landslides, and large-scale damage to infrastructure. Thousands have been evacuated from low-lying areas, and red alerts remain in force across the region.
The Vaishno Devi shrine, one of India’s holiest pilgrimage sites, attracts millions of devotees every year. Authorities are closely monitoring the weather before deciding when the pilgrimage can resume safely.
Heavy rains and flash floods have caused widespread destruction across northern India, with Jammu & Kashmir and Punjab among the worst-affected regions.
According to PTI, a flash flood washed away 10 residential houses and a bridge in the remote Margi area of Kishtwar district in Jammu & Kashmir. While no casualties were reported immediately, officials said more than 12 paramilitary personnel were feared trapped in floodwaters in Lakhanpur village of Kathua district, where rescue efforts are underway.
So far, over 3,500 residents have been evacuated to safer locations in Jammu. In the Kashmir Valley, the Jhelum River crossed the flood-alert mark of 21 feet at Sangam in Anantnag district and was only two feet below the alert level of 18 feet at Ram Munshi Bagh in Srinagar on Wednesday morning.
Amid the rising water levels, India issued fresh alerts to Pakistan over the “high probability” of flooding in the Tawi River, following the release of excess water from major dams due to incessant rains. The alerts, routed through the Ministry of External Affairs, were described by officials as being issued on “humanitarian grounds.” The Tawi originates in the Himalayas, flows through Jammu, and merges with the Chenab in Pakistan.
Very sorry to hear about the loss of lives of pilgrims on the Mata Vaishno Devi yatra route. My deepest condolences to the families who lost their loved ones. May the departed souls rest in peace.” Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister on X,
Officials confirmed that severe damage to public infrastructure has been reported across the Union Territory, including several bridges, residential homes, and commercial establishments swept away by swollen rivers and flash floods.
In neighbouring Punjab, torrential rains have triggered flash floods in several districts, with major rivers including the Sutlej, Beas and Ravi, as well as seasonal rivulets, flowing above danger levels. Massive rescue and relief operations are underway, with the Army, NDRF and state disaster teams evacuating people from low-lying areas.
Pathankot, Gurdaspur, Fazilka, Kapurthala, Tarn Taran, Ferozepur and Hoshiarpur districts are reported to be among the worst hit.
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