Jammu: At least 35 pilgrims lost their lives after a massive landslide struck the Vaishno Devi yatra route near Ardhkuwari in Katra district on Tuesday. The tragedy, triggered by incessant rainfall, has also left 20 others injured and forced the temporary suspension of the yatra.
Officials said that most of the deceased hailed from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, and Madhya Pradesh. Families of victims have begun arriving in Katra to claim the bodies, which are being handed over after legal formalities. Rescue work continues with the Army, Police, and SDRF personnel manually clearing debris, as heavy machinery cannot be used on the narrow route.
Rain Fury Across Jammu
The disaster comes amid record-breaking rainfall in the region. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) confirmed that Jammu received 296 mm of rain in just 24 hours, breaking a 52-year-old record set in 1973. The swollen Tawi River—known locally as Surya Putri—overflowed, flooding homes, farmlands, and displacing over 6,000 people.
Residents described the river as “roaring like a lion.” In Peerkho and Gujjar Nagar, entire houses were submerged up to their roofs.
“I came back from the jaws of death,” said Sukhwinder Singh, whose family of four was rescued from their flooded terrace. Another resident, Anwar, recounted how a wall of water destroyed his home: “If it had been night, many of us would not have survived.”
According to officials, 2,000–3,000 houses and commercial establishments have been damaged, while livestock losses are extensive. For the first time, NDRF deployed boats inside Jammu city to rescue stranded residents.
Overall Death Toll Rises to 39
Apart from the landslide fatalities, floods in different parts of Jammu and Kashmir have claimed four more lives, including that of a BSF trooper. This takes the overall death toll to 39.
Highways and Connectivity Hit
The Jammu-Srinagar National Highway, the Valley’s key all-weather road, remains shut for the third consecutive day due to multiple landslides in the Udhampur-Ramban sector. Over 500 vehicles are stranded, while the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) continues efforts to clear blockades.
The traffic police issued an advisory restricting movement on several routes:
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Jammu–Srinagar NH: Closed from Jakheni (Udhampur) towards Srinagar.
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Mughal Road (Shopian–Poonch): Open only for LMVs and private cars from 7 am to 6 pm, subject to weather clearance.
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Srinagar–Sonamarg–Gumari Road: Vehicles allowed in a regulated manner between 11:30 am and 5:30 pm.
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Kishtwar–Sinthan–Anantnag Road: Closed due to landslides.
Officials said that 5,000–6,000 people were evacuated from 17 locations by the Army, NDRF, SDRF, police and local volunteers. Relief camps have been set up, while the Indian Air Force has joined rescue operations.
The IMD has forecast light to moderate rainfall with thunderstorms across Jammu and Kashmir in the coming days, keeping authorities on high alert. For many residents, the scale of destruction recalls historical rain of 1926, when the city last faced such devastation.
