Mata Vaishno Devi Landslide: 6 Devotees Hurt, Yatra Halted; Highway, Trains Hit

Reasi (The Uttam Hindu): The continuous torrential rain in Jammu and Kashmir is now wreaking havoc. On Tuesday, a massive landslide occurred near a restaurant near Ardhkuwari on the pilgrimage route of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi in ​​Reasi district. Many devotees are reported to be injured in this incident, out of which the condition of 6 is said to be critical. Immediately after the accident, the administration has stopped the pilgrimage with immediate effect and started rescue work on a large scale.

Sharing the information on its official 'X' handle, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board said, "There has been a landslide near Indraprastha Bhojanalaya at Ardhkuwari, some people are feared injured. Rescue operations are underway with necessary manpower and machinery. Jai Mata Di."

15 people were present at the time of the accident

According to preliminary information, at the time of the landslide, 12 to 15 passengers were present at the spot. Suddenly a large part of the mountain fell down along with the debris, causing chaos there. 6 passengers have suffered serious injuries in this accident, who have been immediately rushed to the nearest medical center. The rescue team is present at the spot and is making sure that no one else is trapped in the debris.

The situation worsened due to rain in the entire Jammu division

This landslide is a part of the deteriorating situation due to heavy rains. Almost all major rivers and streams across Jammu division are flowing close to or above the danger mark. Due to landslides and bad weather, vehicular movement on the Jammu-Srinagar National Highway has been stopped.

After the cloudburst in Doda district, landslides have occurred at many places, in which 3 to 4 people are reported dead. Due to excessive rainfall and safety concerns, Northern Railway has canceled more than 10 passenger trains. The General Manager and Divisional Railway Manager are camping in Pathankot with their teams and monitoring the situation. Mobile network has also come down in many parts of Jammu and Kashmir, due to which users are not able to use internet and calling facilities.

The administration has been directed to remain on high alert and disaster management teams are prepared to deal with any situation. More details are awaited.