The death toll from recent torrential rains and landslides across Jammu and Kashmir has tragically climbed to 41, with the majority of victims perishing in a devastating landslide on the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route. While the inclement weather showed some let-up on Wednesday, allowing relief operations to gather momentum, the devastation from record rainfall over the past 48 hours is extensive.
According to news agency PTI, officials confirmed that the pilgrimage to the revered Vaishno Devi shrine remains suspended for a second consecutive day following the tragic landslide near the Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Ardhkuwari. The disaster, triggered by incessant rain, struck the winding 12-km trek from Katra to the shrine around 3 PM on Tuesday. Rescuers are continuing to search for survivors under the mounds of rubble, with the death toll from the incident now standing at 34.
Of the 24 identified victims, 14 are women, and they hail from states including Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, and Maharashtra. At least 20 people injured in the landslide are currently receiving treatment at various hospitals.
J-K CM Omar Abdullah Announces Ex Gratia For Victims' Kin
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah announced Rs 6 lakh ex gratia for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the landslide at Mata Vaishno Devi and other flood-related incidents in the past two days.
Office of Chief Minister, J&K, posted on X, "Chief Minister has announced Rs 6 lakh ex-gratia (Rs 4 lakh from SDRF & Rs 2 lakh from CM’s Relief Fund) for the next of kin of those who lost their lives in the landslide at Mata Vaishno Devi & other flood-related incidents in past two days in J&K. Rs 1 lakh will be given to the severely injured & Rs 50,000 to those with minor injuries. Additionally, the Chief Minister has directed the Advance placement of Rs 10 crore with each Deputy Commissioner to meet the immediate requirements of relief, rehabilitation and restoration."
Widespread Damage Across Jammu Region
Jammu recorded 380 mm of rain in 24 hours ending Wednesday morning — the heaviest since records began in 1910. Rivers, including the Jhelum, Tawi, Chenab, and Ravi, breached danger levels, flooding low-lying areas in Anantnag, Srinagar, Jammu, and Kishtwar. Authorities confirmed more than 10,000 people have been evacuated, as per PTI.
Flash floods in Kishtwar washed away a bridge and 10 homes in Margi, though no casualties were reported there. The Jammu–Srinagar highway remains closed, alongside several roads blocked by landslides. Rail traffic was also disrupted, with Northern Railways cancelling 58 trains and short-terminating or short-originating 64 others.
J-K CM Omar Abdullah Asks Why Vaishno Devi Pilgrims Weren’t Stopped Despite Weather Warning
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah rushed to Jammu to review relief efforts. He later told reporters, “As compared to yesterday, we have got slight relief today (Wednesday) with the fact that rains have stopped. Water is slowly receding in low-lying areas.” He added that expert teams must investigate recurring structural damage to bridges along the Tawi river, recalling similar destruction during the 2014 floods.
Abdullah further highlighted the danger to residents living near riverbanks, noting, “The houses along the river will always be in danger whenever heavy rains occur. We will have to do something about this.”
He also questioned why pilgrims were allowed on the Vaishno Devi track despite weather warnings. “When we knew about the weather, should we not have taken certain steps to save those lives? … Why were these people on the track? Why were they not stopped? Why were they not moved to a safe place?”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on X, writing, “The loss of lives due to a landslide on the route to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Temple is saddening. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. May the injured recover at the earliest. The administration is assisting all those affected.” Abdullah said he had briefed the Prime Minister about the situation and thanked him for deploying NDRF teams, adding that the Centre had assured full support.
Jammu Schools Remain Shut, Communication Restored
In view of the deluge, Education Minister Sakina Itoo announced that all schools and colleges would remain closed on Thursday. Northern Railways confirmed operations would stay suspended due to heavy erosion along tracks. Meanwhile, phone and network services — disrupted for 24 hours due to optical fibre damage — were restored on Wednesday.
The calamity follows a devastating cloudburst on 14 August in Kishtwar’s Chisoti area en route to the Machail Mata shrine, which left 65 people dead and more than 100 injured. Officials say the scale of destruction in Jammu and Kashmir this week has revived memories of that tragedy.