J&K rain fury: 31 dead as massive landslide buries Vaishno Devi pilgrims; floods wash away houses, vehicles

JAMMU: Torrential rains continued to batter Jammu and Kashmir, triggering landslides, flash floods, house collapses and road cave-ins across multiple districts. At least 31 people have died so far, with officials warning the toll could rise as rescue teams scramble to trace the missing. On Tuesday afternoon, a massive landslide struck near Indraprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkwari, midway on the trek to the Vaishno Devi shrine, killing six and leaving several others feared trapped under the debris.

Pilgrimage suspended, trains cancelled, phones down

The landslide prompted the suspension of pilgrim movement. “Efforts are on to save lives, provide assistance to needy and take civilians to safe areas. Close coordination with civil agencies is being carried out,” said PRO Defence Jammu Lt Col Suneel Bartwal. Adding to the disruption, 18 trains to and from Katra, Udhampur and Jammu were cancelled on Tuesday, while mobile and broadband services went dark across large swathes of Jammu after optical fibre cables were snapped. All government and private schools across Jammu division have been shut till August 27, and board exams for Classes 10 and 11 scheduled for Wednesday were postponed.

Rivers in spate, bridges collapse, vehicles trapped

Authorities said almost all rivers — Chenab, Tawi, Ujh, Ravi, Sahar Khad and Basantar — are flowing above or near danger marks, submerging low-lying areas.

The overflowing Madhopur barrage crossed the one lakh cusec mark, inundating Kathua. A portion of the fourth Tawi bridge in Jammu was washed away, leaving several vehicles trapped. Traffic along the Jammu–Pathankot National Highway was suspended after a pillar of the Devak bridge collapsed. The Jammu–Srinagar National Highway also remains blocked due to shooting stones at Ramban, while Padder road in Kishtwar and Ramnagar–Udhampur road in Udhampur were washed away.

Widespread damage, thousands evacuated

In Doda, swollen rivers swept away houses and bridges, leaving four dead and at least 17 structures destroyed. In Rajouri and Kishtwar, damage was reported to homes and cowsheds in higher reaches. In Jammu district alone, 3,500 residents have been shifted to safer areas. Relief camps and community kitchens have been set up in Muthi, Satwari and Youth Hostel Jammu. Medical teams have been deployed at relief centres. Deputy Commissioner Jammu Rakesh Minhas said restoring power, water and road connectivity remains the top priority.

‘Situation quite serious,’ says Omar Abdullah

Chief Minister Omar Abdullah described the situation as “quite serious” and said he had briefed Union home minister Amit Shah, who assured central assistance. “Heavy and continuous rains have caused a lot of damage and disruption to normal life,” Abdullah posted on X. Shah termed the Vaishno Devi landslide “extremely tragic”.

Rainfall record shattered

Jammu city recorded over 250 mm rainfall in 20 hours — the highest in a decade — while Kathua logged 155.6 mm in 24 hours till Wednesday morning, followed by Bhaderwah (99.8 mm), Jammu (81.5 mm) and Katra (68.8 mm). The Tawi river in Udhampur surged to 36.1 feet — 13 feet above evacuation level and four feet higher than the 2014 floods record. The Met department has warned of more heavy showers, thunderstorms, flash floods and landslides till August 27 across Reasi, Ramban, Doda, Kathua, Udhampur and Rajouri districts. Authorities have urged people to stay away from water bodies and avoid landslide-prone zones.