By Emeka Blast 
Distressing News from Vaishno Devi Shrine in Jammu
Jammu, India – A devastating landslide triggered by relentless torrential rains struck the Mata Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route near Adhkwari in Katra, Jammu and Kashmir, on Tuesday, August 26, 2025, claiming at least 31 lives and injuring 23 others. The disaster, one of the deadliest in the region’s recent history, has led to the suspension of the revered yatra, widespread infrastructure damage, and renewed scrutiny of safety measures amid extreme weather warnings.
The landslide hit around 3 p.m. on Tuesday along the 12-km trek from Katra to the hilltop Vaishno Devi shrine in Reasi district, near the Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkwari. Heavy rainfall caused the mountainside to give way, sending boulders, trees, and debris crashing onto pilgrims who had sought shelter under an iron shed on the Himkoti route. The sudden collapse caught devotees unaware, with several feared still trapped under the rubble. Rescue operations, involving the Indian Army, NDRF, SDRF, J&K Police, and local volunteers, are ongoing, with teams working tirelessly to clear debris and search for survivors.
The Jammu and Kashmir government has reported that the death toll could rise as rescue efforts continue. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the situation as “quite serious,” noting significant disruptions to normal life. He briefed Union Home Minister Amit Shah, who assured central assistance, calling the incident “extremely tragic.”
The landslide is part of a broader wave of destruction caused by unprecedented rainfall across Jammu and Kashmir. Jammu city recorded 250 mm of rain in 20 hours—the highest in a decade—while Kathua logged 155.6 mm and Katra 68.8 mm in 24 hours ending August 27 morning. Rivers like the Tawi, Chenab, and Ravi have surged past danger levels, submerging low-lying areas and washing away bridges, including a portion of the fourth Tawi bridge in Jammu. The Jammu-Srinagar and Kishtwar-Doda highways are blocked due to landslides, and 18 trains to and from Katra, Udhampur, and Jammu have been canceled.
Telecom services have collapsed across large swaths of the region due to damaged optical fiber cables, leaving millions cut off and complicating rescue efforts. All schools in the Jammu division are closed until August 27, and board exams for Classes 10 and 11 have been postponed.
Survivors described harrowing scenes of chaos. Kiran, a pilgrim from Mohali, Punjab, told PTI Videos from a hospital bed in Katra, “I was coming down after darshan when people started shouting. I saw stones falling and rushed to safety but was injured.” Many relatives gathered at Narayana Hospital in Katra, where some of the injured were transferred, seeking news of loved ones.
Social media, particularly X, has been flooded with reactions. A post by @IndiaWarZone on August 26 read, “Bad news from Vaishno Devi, Jammu 😔,” capturing the public’s grief. Others criticized the local administration, with @HindustanTimes noting, “No lessons learnt from Kishtwar tragedy,” referencing a recent cloudburst that killed 65 pilgrims. Calls for stricter safety protocols and better weather forecasting have intensified.
The Vaishno Devi yatra was suspended on both the Himkoti and traditional routes as a precautionary measure, with the Shrine Board halting pilgrim movement indefinitely. Chief Minister Abdullah has ordered district administrators to remain on high alert and allocated additional funds for emergency restoration. Relief camps and community kitchens have been set up in Jammu, with 3,500 residents evacuated to safer areas.
However, the Lieutenant Governor’s administration, led by Manoj Sinha, faces criticism for continuing the pilgrimage despite meteorological warnings of heavy rain and landslides. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) had forecast sustained thunderstorms and possible cloudbursts through August 27, yet no preemptive suspension was enforced.
The tragedy, coming just 12 days after a cloudburst killed 65 in Kishtwar, underscores the increasing frequency and severity of weather-related disasters in Jammu and Kashmir, exacerbated by climate change and poorly planned development, according to experts. Authorities have urged residents to avoid water bodies and landslide-prone areas, with the IMD warning of continued heavy showers in Reasi, Ramban, Doda, and Kathua districts.
As rescue operations persist and the region grapples with the aftermath, the Vaishno Devi landslide serves as a grim reminder of the need for robust disaster preparedness and infrastructure resilience. The nation mourns the loss of lives and prays for the safety of those still trapped.
