Surinder Sharma
Katra, Jammu & Kashmir – August 27:
The death toll from Tuesday’s devastating landslide near the Vaishno Devi shrine in Katra has risen to 32, with over 23 others injured and several still reported missing. The incident occurred around 3 PM on the old route to the shrine, near the Indraprastha Bhojanalaya, a short distance from the Ardhkuwari temple.
According to eyewitnesses, massive boulders began to fall suddenly, followed by a deluge of debris, trees, and rocks, which caused widespread destruction in a matter of moments. Initially, seven deaths were confirmed late Tuesday night, but the toll rose significantly by Wednesday morning as rescue operations continued.
The cloudburst in the region on Tuesday afternoon led to the immediate suspension of the pilgrimage to the sacred shrine. Rescue and relief teams have been working round the clock to locate the missing and provide medical aid to the injured.
Jammu & Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha visited Katra on Wednesday to meet with the injured and assess the situation. He confirmed that the condition of the injured remains stable. Identification of several victims has been completed, and arrangements are being made to send their bodies to their respective families.
The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board has announced an ex gratia of ₹5 lakh for the families of the deceased, while the Disaster Management Department will provide an additional ₹4 lakh in compensation.
Record-Breaking Rainfall Across Jammu & Kashmir
The landslide is part of a broader crisis unfolding across the Jammu region due to unprecedented rainfall. According to the India Meteorological Department (IMD), Jammu recorded 296 mm of rainfall between 8:30 AM Tuesday and 8:30 AM Wednesday—the highest in 115 years. The previous record was 272.6 mm, recorded on August 9, 1973.
Similarly, Udhampur witnessed its highest rainfall in six years, with 629.4 mm recorded over the same 24-hour period. The previous record was 342 mm on July 31, 2019.
Heavy rains have caused significant damage throughout the region, including landslides, widespread waterlogging in low-lying areas, and the collapse of several roads and bridges. In Kathua, the rising waters of the Ravi River damaged the CRPF 121 Battalion office, prompting its relocation to a safer area. Deputy Commissioner Rajesh Sharma reported continuous rainfall in the district for the past 36 hours, pushing rivers beyond danger levels.
The adverse weather has also affected air travel. Leh Airport has suspended all operations, and all flights scheduled for August 27 have been canceled. Air India shared this update via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle. Earlier, Delhi Airport had issued a travel advisory warning of delays for flights to Leh due to poor weather conditions.
Communication Services Restored
Following a 24-hour outage, mobile internet, fiber, and calling services from Airtel and Jio have now been restored across Jammu & Kashmir. The disruption had compounded difficulties for residents and emergency responders during the worst of the rainfall.
Chief Minister Briefs Prime Minister
Jammu & Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the extensive damage caused by heavy rainfall and subsequent flooding. The Chief Minister expressed gratitude for the Prime Minister’s continued support and commitment to providing aid to the affected population.
