Two dead, several injured as landslides hit Reasi, Poonch
In two separate incidents of landslides triggered by heavy rains, two people, including a pilgrim and a school student, were killed and thirteen others injured in Jammu region on Monday.
In the first incident in Reasi district, a 70-year-old pilgrim died while nine others were injured after a landslide struck the old track to the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi shrine. According to officials, a booking office and an overhead iron structure collapsed under the weight of the landslide, following incessant rainfall in Katra town, the base camp for pilgrims visiting the cave shrine atop Trikuta hills.
The incident occurred around 8.30 am at Gulshan Ka Langar near Banganga, the starting point of the yatra, where pony riders usually gather to register before ferrying pilgrims 12 km up to the shrine.
Jammu Deputy Commissioner Sachin Kumar Vaishya, who is also officiating CEO of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), said, “Rescue operations are underway. Seven people sustained minor injuries while three others suffered critical injuries and were shifted to Narayana Hospital.”
Among the critically injured were Uppan Srivastava (70) of Chennai, his wife K Radha (66), and Rajinder Bhalla (70) of Haryana. Srivastava later succumbed to his injuries in the hospital.
Officials said the pilgrimage was suspended for several hours as a precautionary measure but later resumed via the alternate Tarakote route around 2 pm after clearance efforts.
The Indian Army’s White Knight Corps also mobilised troops for rescue operations. “Troops of White Knight Corps were swiftly mobilised to assist in relief and rescue operations in collaboration with civil authorities, providing immediate support to the affected,” the Corps posted on X.
Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha expressed grief over the incident, saying, “I am deeply saddened by the tragic landslide incident at Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine in which a devotee unfortunately lost his life. I have directed the Shrine Board to ensure the best possible medical care and support to the injured pilgrims.”
Chief Minister Omar Abdullah also expressed condolences and wished a speedy recovery to the injured.
In a separate incident, a five-year-old student was killed and four others injured when a landslide hit a government primary school in the Bhainch-Kalsian area of Poonch district.
Officials said a large boulder rolled down onto the school’s roof and crashed into a classroom during school hours, injuring several students. The deceased has been identified as Ehsan Ali (5). The four injured students — Mohammad Safeer (7), Bilal Farooq (8), Aftab Ahmad (7), and Tobia Kausar (7) — are being treated at Raja Sukhdev Singh District Hospital in Poonch.
Poonch Deputy Commissioner Vikas Kundal visited the hospital, met the injured children and their families, and directed the medical team to provide the best possible care. Financial assistance was also disbursed under the Red Cross Fund, with Rs 1 lakh provided to the family of the deceased child and Rs 50,000 each to the injured students’ families.
Lt Governor Sinha also condoled the death of the young student, terming the incident “heart-rending,” and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured children. Chief Minister Omar Abdullah similarly expressed sorrow over the tragedy and called for a thorough inquiry into the incident.
J & K