The Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra remains suspended for the sixth consecutive day on Sunday following a landslide in the Adhkuwari region that killed 36 pilgrims on August 26.
The disaster struck on Tuesday afternoon around 3 pm, when heavy rainfall triggered a massive landslide near the Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkuwari, about halfway along the 12-kilometre trek from Katra to the shrine.
The next day, the Yatra was suspended due to a landslide and heavy rainfall. LG Sinha has ordered the constitution of a high-level three-member committee to investigate the causes and alleged negligence shown by the Board while defying the weather advisories.
The three-member committee will be headed by Shaleen Kabra, Additional Chief Secretary of the Department of Jal Shakti, which includes the Divisional Commissioner and the Inspector General of Police, Jammu.
The committee has been tasked with carrying out a detailed probe and submitting its report within 15 days to LG Sinha, who is also the chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), it said.
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The order passed by the Jammu and Kashmir administration shall examine in detail the causes and reasons behind the incident and point out all possible lapses.
While the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB) has denied the alleged claims of procedural lapses, and also expressed profound grief over the tragic loss of pilgrims’ lives in the natural disaster on August 26.
Though reports suggest that the board had defied the weather advisories, knowing that there was a prediction of heavy rainfall, flash floods, and landslides in several districts across the Jammu division.
The board refuted the claims, saying, “A few media reports have been circulating since Friday alleging that Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Yatra was allowed to proceed in complete disregard of weather advisories and at the expense of pilgrim safety.
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