Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday expressed deep sorrow over the tragic loss of lives in a landslide along the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine route in Reasi district, Jammu and Kashmir. At least 30 pilgrims were killed and 14 were injured in the incident.
Taking to X, PM Modi posted, “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.”
Officials confirmed that rescue teams rushed to evacuate stranded pilgrims near Adhkwari soon after the landslide struck. The Yatra has been suspended until further notice.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah and J&K Lt Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief and directed all possible relief measures. Both leaders conveyed condolences to the bereaved families and assured assistance for the injured.
Wider Weather-Related Damage Across J&K
The disaster occurred amid widespread weather-related havoc across Jammu and Kashmir.
Twin cloudbursts in the Margi area of Warwan Valley, Kishtwar, washed away 10 houses, livestock, standing crops across 300 kanals, and a bridge. Nearly 60 homes were inundated, forcing families to take shelter on nearby hillocks.
With communication networks disrupted, locals sent distress messages urging immediate rescue operations. Warwan Valley, home to nearly 40,000 residents across 50 villages, remains cut off from Kishtwar district headquarters.
The River Tawi at Udhampur rose to 36.1 feet, surpassing the evacuation level by 13 feet. The Chenab River at Akhnoor flowed one foot above the evacuation level, while the Jhelum crossed the danger mark at Ram Munshibagh in Srinagar.
Authorities have declared floods in several areas, with water entering low-lying parts of Jammu city, including the railway station premises. Roads and highways connecting Srinagar, Leh, Jammu, Pathankot, Kishtwar, and Gurez were blocked by landslides and snowfall.
All educational institutions across multiple districts, including Anantnag, Kulgam, Pulwama, Shopian, Budgam, and Srinagar, have been closed due to adverse weather. In Jammu district, offices except those involved in flood relief also remain shut.
