Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha addressed the tragic landslide at the Vaishno Devi pilgrimage route, attributing it to a cloudburst that struck around noon on August 26. The disaster, which occurred near Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkuwari in Reasi district’s Trikuta hills, claimed 32 lives, with rescuers recovering more bodies from the debris. At least 20 others were injured and are receiving treatment in hospitals, including 13 at Narayana Superspeciality Hospital in Katra, where Sinha visited to ensure they receive top medical care.

Sinha clarified that the pilgrimage was already suspended before the cloudburst hit,“The yatra was halted on both the Himkoti route since morning and the old route by 1:30 PM as a precautionary measure due to heavy rain warnings.” Despite this, the sudden cloudburst overwhelmed the area, sweeping away pilgrims and causing significant loss of life. The Lieutenant Governor’s statement counters Chief Minister Omar Abdullah’s query about why pilgrims were allowed on the track despite weather alerts, highlighting a potential miscommunication or delay in enforcement.

Sinha announced an ex gratia payment of Rs 5 lakh per deceased pilgrim’s family, per the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board’s policy, acknowledging that “no compensation can make up for the loss of life.” The administration, alongside the Shrine Board, is identifying victims and facilitating the return of bodies to their families. Sinha briefed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah on the post-flood situation, emphasizing ongoing relief efforts across Jammu’s flood-hit districts, where 380 mm of rainfall—the highest since 1910—devastated infrastructure.

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At Narayana Hospital revenuHospital, Sinha urged doctors to provide the best treatment, expressing gratitude to emergency responders and Shrine Board employees for their life-saving interventions. “Relief and rescue work continues across various districts,” he said, directing officials to maintain maximum readiness. The broader crisis, with 36 total deaths and over 10,000 evacuations, underscores the region’s vulnerability, as seen in the recent Kishtwar cloudburst that killed 65.

The Vaishno Devi tragedy, coupled with sustainable infrastructure efforts like Vizhinjam Port, highlights the urgent need for climate-resilient planning in vulnerable regions.

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