J&K LG constitutes 3-member panel to probe Vaishno Devi landslide, yatra remains suspended

Jammu: J&K lieutenant governor Manoj Sinha on Friday constituted a three-member committee to inquire into the reasons behind the Aug 26 landslide near Adh Kuwari, halfway along the route leading to the Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta Hills in Jammu’s Reasi district.The announcement came while pilgrimage to the shrine remained suspended for the fourth consecutive day following the landslide that claimed at least 34 lives.The committee, headed by additional chief secretary of J&K govt’s jal shakti department, has also been entrusted to point out any lapses, assess responses in the form of rescue and relief measures undertaken, and suggest appropriate measures and SoP to prevent a recurrence in future.It has been directed to submit its report within two weeks to LG Sinha, who is also the chairman of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB).With heavy rain lashing the Katra region of Reasi even on Friday, shrine board authorities maintained that the yatra would remain suspended till further orders.A number of pilgrims stuck in Katra are waiting for the yatra to resume. On Thursday evening, the authorities announced that the incessant rains had damaged the route to shrine badly and the restoration work would take three to four days.

Katra Hotel Association announced free accommodation for the stranded pilgrims.The Jammu-Srinagar national highway has also remained closed for normal traffic for the past four days, with multiple landslides triggered by heavy rains in the Udhampur-Ramban stretch on Friday, officials said. The Kishtwar-Sinthan-Anantnag highway was, however, opened for movement of light motor vehicles.Union minister Dr Jitendra Singh, who visited the flood-affected parts of the Jammu-Srinagar NH at Thard and Bali Nalla along with senior officials, said in a post on X that work was going on round the clock, and the highway to Srinagar was likely to be restored by late Friday night.

Border Roads Organisation’s men and machines are working to clear the highway of blockades.Meanwhile, reacting to allegations that Tuesday’s tragedy was caused as the yatra was allowed to proceed disregarding the weather advisories, the shrine board said the pilgrimage was suspended at noon ahead of the cloudburst that triggered a landslide.“As soon as the forecast for moderate rains was received, registrations were immediately suspended,” a statement by the shrine board said. Claiming that the cloudburst was “beyond anyone’s anticipation or control”, it added: “No such event of landslide has ever been recorded in this area in the past. The event was a force majeure.”