Two people were killed and many others, including schoolchildren and pilgrims on their way to Mata Vaishno Devi, were injured in landslides that struck Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch and Reasi districts on Monday morning.
The first incident occurred at an old track leading up to the Vaishno Devi shrine, leaving 10 persons, including five pilgrims, injured, officials said.
Another landslide hit a primary school in the Kalsa Bhainch area of Jammu and Kashmir’s Poonch district, leading to the death of one student and injuries to several others.
Officials said on Monday that a booking office and an overhead iron structure caved in under the weight of the landslide after heavy rainfall lashed Katra town. The yatra to the shrine has been suspended till 1 pm as a precautionary measure.
The CEO of the Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine, Sachin Kumar, told reporters that, “The landslide resulted in critical injuries to three persons and minor injuries to seven others. All the injured were rescued and taken to the hospital.”
Shortly after the incident, a massive rescue operation was initiated by local volunteers, staff, SDRF, police, and CRPF personnel. The injured were identified as Uppan (70) of Chennai, his wife K Radha (66), and Rajinder Bhalla (70) of Haryana.
They were admitted to Narayan hospital, while Leela Raikwar (56) of Uttar Pradesh was undergoing treatment at the community health centre in Katra, the officials said.
According to the Meteorological Department, Katra town recorded 184.2 mm of rainfall over the past 24 hours ending at 8:30 am Monday.
Meanwhile, in the second incident, students were immediately evacuated from the site, and injured students were rushed to the hospital for treatment. Officials said one student died, while several others were injured and have been referred to the hospital.
This is developing news; more details shall follow as they emerge.
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