A landslide triggered by heavy rains claimed 34 lives and left 23 others injured along the Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra track in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir. Officials fear more people may still be trapped under the debris.
At least 34 people were killed and 23 others injured after a massive landslide struck the Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra route near Ardhkumari in Katra on Wednesday amid relentless rains.
Rescue operations continued through the night as teams searched through rubble, with fears that the death toll could rise.
Heavy downpours have unleashed devastation across Jammu and Kashmir, causing flash floods and multiple landslides. In Jammu, critical infrastructure has been badly damaged, with bridges collapsing and power lines and mobile towers snapped.
More than 3,500 residents were evacuated till Tuesday after days of heavy rain triggered flash floods and waterlogging in several districts.
Rain fury in Jammu
According to official data, Jammu recorded its highest rainfall on Tuesday between 11.30 am and 5.30 pm, with 22 cm falling in just six hours. Rainfall eased after midnight, bringing some respite. Earlier on Tuesday, another landslide struck the shrine route in the afternoon, killing nine and injuring 21.
Officials warned that the toll from both incidents is likely to rise. The route to the shrine on Trikuta hill suffered significant damage, leaving it unsafe for pilgrims.
Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah said in a post on X that he was “still struggling with almost non-existent communication” as heavy rain disrupted key services.
“No fixed line Wi-Fi, no browsing, apps opening frustratingly slowly,” he added. Telecom blackouts have left millions without communication across large parts of the Union Territory, compounding the crisis.
Relief and evacuation efforts are ongoing, led by joint teams from the District Administration, J&K Police, NDRF, SDRF, Indian Army and local volunteers. A flood alert has also been issued for the Jhelum River in South Kashmir after water levels crossed the danger mark of 22 feet at Sangam.
Authorities said 20 to 30 low-lying areas in Jammu and Samba districts were inundated after torrential rains. Distress calls continue to reach the administration’s control centre, requesting urgent evacuation.
Infrastructure damage has been extensive, with roads washed away, bridges collapsing and electricity poles knocked down.
Widespread impact across J&K
Jammu city, RS Pura, Samba, Akhnoor, Nagrota, Kot Bhalwal, Bishnah, Vijaypur, Purmandal, and parts of Kathua and Udhampur are among the worst-affected areas.
Light to moderate rain was reported in Reasi, Ramban, Doda, Billawar, Katra, Ramnagar, Hiranagar, Gool, Banihal, and nearby parts of Samba and Kathua.
Authorities ordered the closure of all government and private schools across the Jammu division until August 27. The Jammu and Kashmir Board of School Education suspended scheduled examinations for Classes 10 and 11 on Wednesday.
Air travel was also disrupted. Operations at Leh airport were severely affected due to adverse weather, with multiple flights delayed or cancelled. Delhi airport issued a passenger advisory for Leh-bound flights, asking travellers to confirm flight status with their airlines before leaving for the airport.
Weather experts reported that cloud tops reached up to 12 km high, indicating severe storm activity. The system is moving east-northeast, with further rain expected in hilly and foothill areas.
Rail services suspended
Northern Railways cancelled 22 trains scheduled to halt at or depart from Jammu and Katra stations on Wednesday due to the extreme weather. Another 27 trains were short-terminated at stations including Firozpur, Manda, Chak Rakhwalan and Pathankot.
Train services between Pathankot and Kandrori in Himachal Pradesh were also suspended following heavy soil erosion and flash floods near the Chakki River. Despite the disruptions, train operations continued on the Katra–Srinagar route.
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