Vaishno Devi Landslide Death Toll Climbs to 38 as Rescue Efforts Continue in Jammu and Kashmir

A second monsoon disaster has struck Jammu and Kashmir during the pilgrimage season, following the Kishtwar cloudburst on August 14th. On Wednesday, rescue teams recovered an additional 28 bodies from a landslide site along the trek to the Vaishno Devi shrine. This grim discovery brought the total number of fatalities from Tuesday’s landslides and flash floods in Reasi and Doda to 38. The majority of the victims at Ardhkuwari in Reasi were pilgrims hailing from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi, and Punjab. Initially, six deaths were reported at the site, with at least 20 others sustaining injuries as a result of the landslide. The Lieutenant Governor, Manoj Sinha, has announced ex gratia payments of Rs 9 lakh each to the families of the landslide victims. Additionally, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has sanctioned Rs 4 lakh each for the families of the 11 individuals from his state who perished in the Reasi landslide. Former Chief Minister Omar Abdullah raised questions regarding why district officials did not halt the pilgrims’ progress on the Vaishno Devi route amid adverse weather conditions. He expressed his sorrow and questioned the lack of protective measures for the pilgrims. Lieutenant Governor Sinha provided briefings to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah, updating them on the flood situation and the Union territory’s preparedness for evacuation and relief operations.