5 dead, 14 injured as landslide hits Vaishno Devi route in J&K

A landslide struck the route leading to the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine atop Trikuta hills in Jammu and Kashmir on Tuesday, killing 5 and injuring 14, and prompting immediate rescue operations. The landslide occurred near the Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkwari, disrupting access to the popular pilgrimage site.

The landslide, triggered by heavy rainfall affecting several parts of Jammu and Kashmir, led to some injuries, though the exact number remains unclear. Officials confirmed that rescue operations are ongoing, with necessary manpower and machinery deployed to the site near Inderprastha Bhojnalaya.

The Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board posted on X: “A landslide incident has occurred near Inderprastha Bhojnalaya at Adhkwari, some injuries are feared. Rescue operations are underway along with the required manpower and machinery. Jai Mata Di.”

Network services were disrupted across Jammu and Kashmir  after heavy rain damaged optical fibre lines at several places, officials said. Teams have been sent to repair the faults.

Officials said calls were not going through and mobile internet was down on all networks due to “fiber cuts at multiple locations.” BSNL’s landline and fibre services were also affected.

Telecom operators said the issue was caused by “multiple fibre cuts” in Jammu, Srinagar and Shimla. “We will try to restore the network and services as fast as possible,” they added.

The region has been battling heavy rains for the third consecutive day, which are believed to have triggered the landslide. Efforts to clear the debris and ensure the safety of pilgrims are underway.