Landslide at Vaishno Devi's Ardhkuwari: 32 Killed, 20 Injured; Amit Shah Speaks to LG and CM

Katra: A landslide incident occurred near Indraprastha Bhojnalaya at Ardhkuwari, claiming 32 lives and leaving twenty people injured. Rescue operations are underway along with required manpower and machinery.

Vaishno Devi Yatra is temporarily halted by Shrine Board due to heavy overnight rainfall. Flood alert declared in several Jammu districts. 

Rescue operations underway, with several pilgrims still trapped.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah spoke with Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha and Chief Minister Omar Abdullah to coordinate ongoing rescue and relief efforts amid heavy rainfall and challenging conditions.

A flood alert has been declared across multiple districts in Jammu, including Kathua, Samba, Doda, Ramban, and Kishtwar, as rivers flowing above warning levels. 

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued a red alert, warning of continued heavy rainfall, possible cloudbursts, and further landslides.

Emergency services remain on high alert, and rescue operations are ongoing, with several pilgrims still trapped at the site.

Flood alert in Jammu 

A flood alert has been issued in the Jammu region on Tuesday after heavy and incessant rainfall caused the Tawi river to surge, washing away the road near the Fourth Tawi Bridge and disrupting normal life across the region.
Jammu Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) Shiv Kumar Sharma appealed to the public to avoid going near rivers and nallahs as precautionary measures are being taken to ensure public safety.

"A flood alert has been sounded. The Administration has appealed to the public to avoid going near rivers and nallahs. The traffic is operating on the highway. We are taking all measures to ensure the safety of the people," the Jammu DIG told ANI.

Meanwhile, incessant heavy rainfall wreaked havoc in the Jammu area and disrupted normal life. The water level of the Lidder River rose in Anantnag district as continuous rainfall across the union territory wreaked havoc.

In the Gadigarh area of Jammu, the Indian Army has been carrying out continuous rescue operations to evacuate people stranded on boats.

Railway services in the region were severely impacted. 18 trains were cancelled due to traffic suspended in the Down Line PTKC from Pathankot Cantt to KNDI from Kandrori due to heavy soil erosion and flash flood in the Chakki River and traffic was suspended between JAT from Jammu Tawi to SVDK from Katra, JAT from Jammu Tawi to BBMN from Bari Brahman (Down Line) section following heavy rain in several parts of Jammu. Four trains were short-terminated and short-originated, officials said.